{"id":125855,"date":"2020-03-17T15:12:22","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T19:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=125855"},"modified":"2020-03-17T15:12:22","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T15:35:23","slug":"ammo-shortages-coronavirus-outbreak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/ammo-shortages-coronavirus-outbreak\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Seems like the World Has Gone Mad’: Ammo Shortages Rise Amid Coronavirus Outbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"'Seems
Ammo is flying off the shelves in stores around the country.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Are we about to see another ammo shortage?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shortages between 2008 and 2013 left many gun owners\nstruggling to find the most popular calibers, and some are worried the\ncoronavirus outbreak will spur a return to scarcity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media is full of reports of empty shelves<\/a>, and some local reporting in Waco, Texas, confirms these accounts. The Academy and Cabela\u2019s sporting goods stores have been more-or-less cleaned out of handgun ammunition and most 5.56\/.223. Academy has already limited customers to three ammunition items per store visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"'Seems
The Cabela’s in Waco, Texas, had sold out of most pistol ammunition, but still had a variety of rifle ammunition available. The author was also able to find one 1,000-piece box of 9mm bullets for reloading.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"'Seems
Only high-powered hunting rifle cartridges remained at the Academy sporting goods store in Waco, Texas.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem appears to be even worse in states heavily affected by the virus, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times<\/a>. Reporters spoke with gun shop owners and customers in the greater-LA area, who all noted the uptick in gun and ammo sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPoliticians and anti-gun people have been telling us for\nthe longest time that we don\u2019t need guns,\u201d a customer named John Gore told the LA\nTimes. \u201cBut right now, a lot of people are truly scared, and they can make that\ndecision themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many customers expressed versions of the adage, \u201cit\u2019s better\nto have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not like an active panic, more a preoccupation with making\nsure everyone is adequately prepared, myself and family and friends,\u201d first-time\ngun purchaser Anna Carreras told the LA Times. \u201cBetter to be prepared and not\nneed it than need it and not have it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou got to be protected for all sorts of stuff,\u201d gun shop\nemployee David Stone reiterated. \u201cSeems like the world has gone mad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their fear isn\u2019t unwarranted. The city of Champaign, Illinois, passed a resolution that allows city officials to ban firearms if it deems the action necessary. Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen has said<\/a> she has no plans to use her newfound power, but mayors of major U.S. cities have tried in the past to ban guns in the wake of disasters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEE ALSO: Coronavirus Masks \u2013 Surgical \u2013 N95 \u2013 Explained- Prepping 101<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also evidence to suggest that the run on ammo has been percolating for longer than the last few days. Ammo.com reported in a press release on March 17<\/a> that it’s seen a dramatic rise in sales since the pandemic hit American shores. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When compared to the 11 days before February 23 (February 12 to 22), in the 11 days after (February 23 to March 4), Ammo.com’s number of transactions increased 68% overall. Since March 4, the company has seen a 276% increase in sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When comparing 22 days worth of sales from February 23, 2020, through March 15, with sales from February 1, 2020, through February 22, their analysis found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n