Gun Laws could Amplify Ammo Shortage at Greece PD
By: Tina Shively
Updated: January 15, 2013
Your local police department could face an unintended consequence of the new gun reform law.
In anticipation of upcoming gun legislation across the U.S. and in New York, sales of ammunition have skyrocketed.
Tina Shively found out the increase in demand could amplify a shortage already seen at the Greece Police Department.
Whether at the shooting range or in the field, ammunition is a vital part of police work.
Lt. Jason Helfer of the Greece Police Department says these days, securing it takes longer and cost more.
"We generally have to plan 3 months ahead of time, in some cases 6-8 months ahead of time to order ammunition."
Lt. Helfer says the military is the ammunition suppliers' largest customer, and since the wars began in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's ordered a lot of it.
That drives up demand, and most likely the price.
Right now the most expensive shells for the department's AR-15 rifles cost nearly 60 cents a piece, and Lt. Helfer is expecting the cost to grow.
"They're working on a new contract now. Our assumption is that we're going to be realizing a price increase because the prices we're paying now are from 5 years ago."
Those are not the only factors impacting supply and demand.
Gun owners worried about the impact of both state and federal gun reform have emptied shelves at gun shops, nationwide.
Lt. Helfer says it's human nature.
"Anytime you have something, like even if you have a storm coming in, the shelves are empty at Lowes and generators are out. I think people may be concerned that they may not be able to get what they want afterward."
Lt. Helfer says the officers training and service weapon ammunition supply will not be compromised by the potential increase in price or demand.
"We're doing more than what we have to do, but not as much as we did several years ago and that's to conserve ammunition...We have the option of borrowing from other agencies and returning the favor if they need something as well."
The department is prepared to move money around in the budget to buy what they need.
Until then, Lt. Helfer says they will watch and wait, and maintain their standards, to keep the community safe.
