Canadians Complain of U.S. Ammo Hoarding

Canadian gun owners have been complaining about Americans hoarding bullets because of a fear that tougher gun control measures will be implemented by the Obama administration. Demand for ammunition is at unprecedented levels and American manufacturers are having difficulties meeting U.S. and Canadian needs.

According to the National Rifle Association in the U.S., Americans buy about seven billion rounds of ammunition annually. But by September this year, they had purchased nine billion rounds.

Many gun owners fear that the Obama administration will impose new gun laws, or new taxes on ammunition. This has led many to stockpile ammunition.

Canadian hunters gripe about having to go to several stores for ammo but seem to understand the attitude of the Americans, indicating that they too would stock up if the government were planning on making ammo purchases harder. According to champion target shooter Murray Gardner, Canadians are dealing with ammo shortages by rationing.

Gardner said the American hoarders have compounded supply problems created by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, meaning police rounds like 9 millimetre are hard to come by.

The RCMP said it's had delays in its orders, but no shortages. However, Port Coquitlam and District Hunting and Fishing Club range manager Peter Hobot said members have complained to him they're having trouble finding enough to practise with.

"So I'm having them coming on and saying 'I"m having a hard time getting this stuff.' I went to two or three different places before I finally got a couple of boxes."

Gardner said he expects the shortage to ease when panicked U.S. gun owners realize they went off half-cocked about Obama.

Half-cocked about Obama, eh? I don't think so.