Quote:
Originally Posted by LouisZimmerman
The number that is being thrown around for the HSec purchase is 1.6 billion rounds.
HSec denies this. To quote from a Washington Times article:
"DHS officials said in fiscal year 2012 the agency purchased 103 million rounds and used 88 million rounds for training, and 28 million rounds during actual operation
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...#ixzz2RRa9O6ce
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter"
Now I could possibly see the 88 million rounds for training, but must admit that 28 million rounds "during actual operation" is kind of terrifying... 8-O |
If you read the actual article you would have seen that they are not buying all that ammunition all at once, It will be over a period of time.
They have a VERY LARGE law enforcement body of which there are an equally large ammont of officers who have to be armed and supplied with ammuntion. In order for those officers to be proficient with thier weapons they need to shoot... a lot.
As Brian stated earlier, the american public heard "gun ban" in december, and the fastest way to get them to buy anything is to tell them "you cant have it". As a result of this firearms sales in the US spiked 800% which means everyone and their uncle and grandmother bought a gun, then they all bought another one just in case. All these new firearms that have been purchaced need to be "fed" because lets face it, if you buy an airsoft gun, you are going to put some BBs through it, they bought a real gun same deal.
It is not only the 5.56 ammo but 7.62, 9mm, .40, .45 and .22LR that are all facing supply shortages, why? becasue they are the "self defence" and "survival" rounds. The federal gun laws proposed were innitially speculated to be as restrictive as the "New York Safe act" which was brought in this year, where they can no longer have "high cap" mags. Rifles with detacable magazines are prohibited if they have 1 "military characteristic" (pistol grip, compensator, bayonette lugs, ext) additionally there are now defined limits on ammounts of ammo you are allowed to purchase in NYS so before the limits came into effect, people were stocking up. Basically they brought in more restrictions then Canadian gun laws. Where we only have "gun privilages" and they have a "right" to own them, it is somewhat understandable why there is an ammo/gun shortage.
What happened to the gun industry is the SAME thing that happens to the grocery stores when people hear there is a natural disaster coming. There is no overt conspiracy by thier government but panic buying by civilians who suddenly see "the end is nigh". Since some of the proposed gun laws have been "shot down", the panic buying has eased and supplies are again starting to free up (somewhat).