Gun shops across the country are reporting ammunition shortages as many Americans continue to stock up on whatever they can get their hands on.
Jeff Dillard, who runs National Armory in Pompano, Florida says, "I have never seen ammo so impossible to get."
Bruce A. Pelletier, owner of Pelletier's Sports in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, says in his forty-four years in business, he's never seen the shortage this bad.
"Customers have been buying it all at once. We've been at the point to limiting it to one or two boxes per person, so at least that more than one of our customers can have some."
At Sam's Outdoor Outfitters, which has locations in both New Hampshire and Vermont, rationing isn't even an option.
"We haven't had any ammunition that we can limit," says owner Stanley Borofsky.
"People are calling on a daily basis...I've been here since 1957, and I've never seen the shortage this bad," he said.
Tyler Boucher of Highlander Arms in Chesterfield believes that the "prepper" movement and rumors of the government buying up large quantities has exacerbated the run on ammunition.
"I think one of the things that's interesting from a psychological standpoint is the prepper movement has become more widespread and somewhat of a cultural phenomenon nationally," he said.
"People go to one of two extremes: bury their heads in the sand or preparing for World War III. I think people need to remain level-headed and consistent."
In York, Pennsylvania, gun shops are reporting the same ammo shortages:
"People want ammunition more than ever. It is the emotional turmoil in this country," said Wayne Shuler, manager at Deer Valley Sporting Goods in West Manchester Township.
"We have very, very little. Normally, it's readily available," he said.
Scott Morris, president and manager of Freedom Armory in Springfield Township says that after the shooting in Newtown, his store was "cleaned out within three days."
Morris says this is a long-term problem for both civilians and law enforcement.
"Right now, we're rationing ammunition...we have police departments that are scrambling," he said.
Denny Thomas, owner of B&B Sporting Goods in Hines, Oregon says that the shortage is as bad as it's ever been.
"Right now there's a real shortage on rimfire ammo."
Manufacturers, he says, "can't even keep up with making the cardboard boxes to put the ammo in."
Doug Toelke, store manager at Snappy Sport Senter in Evergreen, MT said, "It's tough for the manufacturers and the distributors to fill orders.
"The whole pipeline is dried up."
Toelke says that when the shop does get ammunition in, it disappears immediately:
"We'll put it on our shelves and we'll limit it to five boxes per customer and it might last an afternoon."
At the Nashville Gun Shop, owner Demir Demirhisar says that all of his ammo shelves are bare.
As "Right Views" previously reported, gun shows across the nation continue to see record turnout with the majority of attendees seeking ammunition.
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