http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=What%27s+triggering+a+shortage+of+guns%3f&articleId=9558e862-8720-40f8-a87e-8ce6531ec228
Whether shopping online, at Wal-Mart or local sporting goods stores, gun enthusiasts continue to forage for .45-caliber bullets, handguns and tactical rifles -- fallout from what some would say has been a perfect storm of economic and political change over the past 10 months, fueled by fear.
"Three main elements that have been behind this are the potential for pending legislation on the federal level, a federal administration that doesn't have any regard for the rights of individuals, and just a general sense of uncertainty," said Paul Gauffin, of State Line Gun Shop in Mason.
"There's a lot of anxiety in society today caused by the economy and the unstable job market, and a lot of political turbulence. Couple all those factors and it creates a climate that makes people want to dig in -- and part of that urge is hoarding ammunition," Gauffin said.
At Al's Gun & Reel Shop in Derry, owner Theresa Bacon said that from a business standpoint, it's frustrating.
"I have three particular revolvers on order with Smith & Wesson since July. I've got the deposits, but I can't get the merchandise. They tell us they are way behind in production," Bacon said. "I don't know how far behind they are, but Kimber (a gun manufacturer) told us they are 200,000 guns behind."
The surge in gun sales, which spiked around November of last year, has created scarcity of trickle-down proportions, leaving consumers high and dry. Certain items, like pistols and tactical rifles -- also known as "home defense" guns -- are still nearly impossible to get, said Bacon.
Most recent industry statistics show that, while the trend is leveling out, demand still far exceeds supply.
"Even black powder and other supplies are scarce. And when we finally do get them, the price goes up. We are constantly price-checking to make sure we're not under pricing ourselves," Bacon said. "But then I have to deal with cranky customers who can't get what they want, and don't want to pay more for what they can."
Jeff Kasprzyk of Derry, a regular at Bacon's shop, admits he has been hoarding ammunition for years.
"People have stockpiles, that's part of the problem. I moved up here from Massachusetts, and I was feeling the infringement coming from a Democratic state. Now that I'm getting back into sports shooting, I guess I'm about to find out how hard it is to find certain ammunition," Kasprzyk said.
Conservative gun owners like Kasprzyk say they continue to feel threatened by liberal lawmakers who they believe have their sights set on eroding existing gun ownership rights.
State Sen. Robert Letourneau, R-Derry, said that was what he was hearing around this time last year from many of his constituents. With a new legislative session looming, he's still waiting to see what's in the pipeline.
"There is some negative legislation that has been filed this year. All we can see right now are the titles, but a number have been filed here in the House that I'd consider anti-gun," Letourneau said.
Letourneau said other changes in the past year have contributed to ammunition shortages, including a directive in March from the Department of Defense to discontinue its recycling of brass from spent ammunition. Instead of reloading the casings for resale to the public, the metal is now scrapped.
Of even greater concern to gun owners would be legislation from Washington that could reinforce long-feared reforms, including federal reinstatement of the ban on some semiautomatic rifles and increases in federal excise taxes on ammunition.
As hunting season begins, Gauffin said hunters are about the only ones immune from the shortages.
His Mason gun shop shelves are stocked with most of the larger game rifle calibers. "They're available, albeit not plentiful. But there's enough to go around. It's pistol and military style ammo that's hard to find," Gauffin said.
And that threatens other gun-related businesses. An employee of Firing Line Target Range in Manchester said right now they have no 380- or 45-caliber, or 30 carbine ammo for target shooting.
"Carbine, used in World War II, used to be cheap to shoot. Now we can't get it," he said. "And if we don't have bullets, we're out of business."
Whether shopping online, at Wal-Mart or local sporting goods stores, gun enthusiasts continue to forage for .45-caliber bullets, handguns and tactical rifles -- fallout from what some would say has been a perfect storm of economic and political change over the past 10 months, fueled by fear.
"Three main elements that have been behind this are the potential for pending legislation on the federal level, a federal administration that doesn't have any regard for the rights of individuals, and just a general sense of uncertainty," said Paul Gauffin, of State Line Gun Shop in Mason.
"There's a lot of anxiety in society today caused by the economy and the unstable job market, and a lot of political turbulence. Couple all those factors and it creates a climate that makes people want to dig in -- and part of that urge is hoarding ammunition," Gauffin said.
At Al's Gun & Reel Shop in Derry, owner Theresa Bacon said that from a business standpoint, it's frustrating.
"I have three particular revolvers on order with Smith & Wesson since July. I've got the deposits, but I can't get the merchandise. They tell us they are way behind in production," Bacon said. "I don't know how far behind they are, but Kimber (a gun manufacturer) told us they are 200,000 guns behind."
The surge in gun sales, which spiked around November of last year, has created scarcity of trickle-down proportions, leaving consumers high and dry. Certain items, like pistols and tactical rifles -- also known as "home defense" guns -- are still nearly impossible to get, said Bacon.
Most recent industry statistics show that, while the trend is leveling out, demand still far exceeds supply.
"Even black powder and other supplies are scarce. And when we finally do get them, the price goes up. We are constantly price-checking to make sure we're not under pricing ourselves," Bacon said. "But then I have to deal with cranky customers who can't get what they want, and don't want to pay more for what they can."
Jeff Kasprzyk of Derry, a regular at Bacon's shop, admits he has been hoarding ammunition for years.
"People have stockpiles, that's part of the problem. I moved up here from Massachusetts, and I was feeling the infringement coming from a Democratic state. Now that I'm getting back into sports shooting, I guess I'm about to find out how hard it is to find certain ammunition," Kasprzyk said.
Conservative gun owners like Kasprzyk say they continue to feel threatened by liberal lawmakers who they believe have their sights set on eroding existing gun ownership rights.
State Sen. Robert Letourneau, R-Derry, said that was what he was hearing around this time last year from many of his constituents. With a new legislative session looming, he's still waiting to see what's in the pipeline.
"There is some negative legislation that has been filed this year. All we can see right now are the titles, but a number have been filed here in the House that I'd consider anti-gun," Letourneau said.
Letourneau said other changes in the past year have contributed to ammunition shortages, including a directive in March from the Department of Defense to discontinue its recycling of brass from spent ammunition. Instead of reloading the casings for resale to the public, the metal is now scrapped.
Of even greater concern to gun owners would be legislation from Washington that could reinforce long-feared reforms, including federal reinstatement of the ban on some semiautomatic rifles and increases in federal excise taxes on ammunition.
As hunting season begins, Gauffin said hunters are about the only ones immune from the shortages.
His Mason gun shop shelves are stocked with most of the larger game rifle calibers. "They're available, albeit not plentiful. But there's enough to go around. It's pistol and military style ammo that's hard to find," Gauffin said.
And that threatens other gun-related businesses. An employee of Firing Line Target Range in Manchester said right now they have no 380- or 45-caliber, or 30 carbine ammo for target shooting.
"Carbine, used in World War II, used to be cheap to shoot. Now we can't get it," he said. "And if we don't have bullets, we're out of business."
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