Want to survive an armed encounter? Show up with a gun and know how to use it.
How do you figure out how to use a firearm effectively? Go to the range and shoot a whole bunch.
This is pretty obvious to everyone after they complete their first trip to the range. The first shots they fire are all over the place, but they are able to achieve noticeable groupings by the time they leave.
The fly in this ointment is that ammo prices have been on the rise over the past few years. Part of this is due to the Global War on Terror, as most ammo production has been bought by the military. This is hardly new, an actual shooting war using up the stocks on hand, as this Time article from 1953 attests.
But the most significant reason for the increase in prices is that China is buying up the supply of available metal to be used in their efforts to industrialize the country. Prices started to spike back in October of 2005, and they have only gone up since then. Even scrap metal prices are through the roof.
This news article discusses how Olympic athletes from India are having a tough time. The government, which supplied free ammunition for 23 years, decided to stop without explanation. The lack of live fire practice has seriously undermined the ability of India's shooting athletes to compete, and they are threatening a boycott unless they get a sudden infusion of ammunition.
And when did the government decide to stop supplying free rounds? The article says "two and a half years ago", which would place it around the time metal prices started to spike.
I can't say that I have a lot of sympathy for India's athletes since we are all in the same boat. Ammo prices have climbed for me as well, except that I don't get government handouts so I have always had to pay my own way. It is true that I'm just an instructor who runs a charity instead of a world class shooter who needs thousands of rounds a week to be able to compete, but our own Olympic shooters don't have the government supplying ammo. Fair is fair, after all.
(Hat tip to Kathryn.)
Comments (2)
James,
I saw this post over at the Confederate Yankee investigating the ammo shortage. Seems like he did a pretty good job covering the bases.
I agree that the number one reason that ammo costs more is the rapid rise in the cost of the raw materials. However, I have to think that the tertiary cause is the continued rise in gun sports creating more demand, thusly causing prices to rise.
Thoughts?
Steve
Posted by Steve | March 30, 2008 10:27 PM
Posted on March 30, 2008 22:27
I have to think that the tertiary cause is the continued rise in gun sports creating more demand, thusly causing prices to rise.
I would agree if a few conditions were met.
First off, I see that ammo prices are up in all countries, not just the US. Which is why I think that the government in India doesn't supply ammo to their Olympic teams.
While I agree that the shooting sports are becoming somewhat more popular in the United States in the past few years, particularly where it concerns self defense shooting, I don't see a corresponding rise in enthusiasm in other societies. In fact, more anti-gun laws seems to have curtailed the practice in foreign lands.
So if the reason why prices in the US are on the rise because more enthusiasts like ourselves are essentially competing for a set resource, why would the same problem be felt across the world?
James
Posted by James R. Rummel | March 30, 2008 10:44 PM
Posted on March 30, 2008 22:44