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| Roch PB: Fears about restrictions ignite a demand for ammo http://ellegon.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=12996 |
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| Author: | dismal [ Sat May 23, 2009 10:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Roch PB: Fears about restrictions ignite a demand for ammo |
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager ... 5&a=400864 Fears about restrictions ignite a demand for ammo 5/23/2009 7:10:01 AM By John Weiss Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN Ralph Hettig needed only two words to explain why he can't get all the firearms and ammunition he would like to sell at Wild Good Sports -- President Obama. "It's entirely the Obama factor," he said. If John McCain was elected, "there wouldn't be any of this," he said. "This" is a big rush to buy firearms, especially handguns, and ammunition for fear that Obama will try to curtail who can buy ammunition or firearms, how much they can buy or how much it will cost, said the veteran Rochester firearms salesman. His store is on North Broadway. Hunters can usually get the firearms and shells they want, but others are having a hard time, he said. Obama has talked about putting special markings on ammunition, heavily taxing firearms and restricting some firearms, he said. Ammunition demand is so intense that he restricts customers to two boxes per day, he said. His biggest problem is getting the firearms and ammunition. "People are panic buying. ... It's the worst I have ever seen it," Hettig said. When President Clinton came into office, there was a smaller push because Clinton hadn't given specifics about what he would do. Also, some people are buying components for reloading ammunition and selling it on the Web for much higher prices, he said. At Gander Mountain, which has stores in many states including one in Rochester, the situation is much the same, said David Ewald, a corporate spokesman. "Sales of firearms and ammunition across all lines have been brisk," he said. It's been that way for about nine months, he said. He gave several explanations: Changes in the political environment, speculation when buyers hope to resell items at a profit later, more women and children shooting, manufacturers thought they would have to make more for the military so they don't have as much for civilians and with the recession, people find shooting sports a less-expensive alternative. The cost of shooting and shells, however, is what has dramatically cut the number of trap shooters coming to the Southern Minnesota Trap Club that shoots at the Southern Minnesota Sportsman's Club southeast of Rochester. Brad Nelson, club president, said a box of shells that cost maybe $4 a year or two ago now costs $6.50. The problem is that lead costs are soaring, he said. People found they couldn't shoot, fish and golf, so they cut one or two things, possibly shooting, he said. Many older people shot for many years, but when the prices went up for shells or components for reloading shells, "they said to heck with it," he said. "It just got too costly for them. With lower prices now for lead, he still doesn't expect a big increase in shooting until closer to fall when hunters come there to get ready for their seasons, Nelson said. Three shooters who were preparing to shoot trap Tuesday agreed. "Everything has gone up," said Jim Woolums of Rochester. "Lead has gone up the most." He once paid $16 for a 25-pound bag to reload his shells, but that went closer to $45 last year. While it's down to about $22 now, it's still expensive, he said. It was the price of shells that also convinced Kyle Trocinski of Dakota and Tom Soland of Rochester to shoot less. "I haven't been out this year," Trocinski said. "I used to be on a league, but the stuff got so expensive, I don't do it anymore." He and friends would once buy a case of 10 boxes of shotgun shells and shoot clay pigeons they would throw on private land. Now, that's too pricey, he said. Even two rounds of trap, including shells and trap fees, now cost $18, Soland said. He'd like to do more but doesn't have the time or money. |
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