Ammo shortage costing law enforcement
Updated: January 31, 2013
CHARLESTON -- People are stockpiling ammunition and it could be costing law enforcement. The Coles County Sheriff's Department says since the demand has gone up, prices have too.
It's getting harder for them to get their hands on it. Sheriff Darrell Cox says he has seen this before. He says, in 2008, there was a run on ammunition and it took them about a year before supplies got back to normal. That's why, since then, they've been stocking up.
"We're probably good to go for 18 months or so at the normal supply rates," said Sheriff Cox.
He's talking about rifle ammunition. It's used by deputies for SWAT situations and training. Luckily their forward thinking means they won't have to change their tactics.
"We've stockpiled for the past few years so we're in pretty good shape right now," said Cox.
Gun control has been at the top of the White House's agenda since the Sandy Hook shooting in December. It has people worried about what could be taken away.
"A lot of people are going out, trying to buy those guns now anticipating they won't be able to buy them at a later date if a new law is passed," said Cox.
That's causing prices to double and it means the sheriff's department will have to cut back on its orders. Good thing they just got one in.
"When we started our new budget in December, we ordered our ammunition then which was about 30-days before this shortage starting cropping up," said Cox.
It will last them through the year. It's a similar situation in Mattoon. The chief says they have a reserve that will last them until the end of the year as well.
It's getting harder for them to get their hands on it. Sheriff Darrell Cox says he has seen this before. He says, in 2008, there was a run on ammunition and it took them about a year before supplies got back to normal. That's why, since then, they've been stocking up.
"We're probably good to go for 18 months or so at the normal supply rates," said Sheriff Cox.
He's talking about rifle ammunition. It's used by deputies for SWAT situations and training. Luckily their forward thinking means they won't have to change their tactics.
"We've stockpiled for the past few years so we're in pretty good shape right now," said Cox.
Gun control has been at the top of the White House's agenda since the Sandy Hook shooting in December. It has people worried about what could be taken away.
"A lot of people are going out, trying to buy those guns now anticipating they won't be able to buy them at a later date if a new law is passed," said Cox.
That's causing prices to double and it means the sheriff's department will have to cut back on its orders. Good thing they just got one in.
"When we started our new budget in December, we ordered our ammunition then which was about 30-days before this shortage starting cropping up," said Cox.
It will last them through the year. It's a similar situation in Mattoon. The chief says they have a reserve that will last them until the end of the year as well.
