Apparently Michael Bloomberg doesn’t realize the full impact that his crusade against guns in the U.S. is having on America’s police forces.
That’s because unbeknownst to the nanny mayor of New York City the skyrocketing costs of guns and shortages of ammunition in recent months have made it more difficult for many police departments to keep their officers armed.
In Jenks, Okla., just outside of Tulsa, Police Chief Cameron Arthur says his officers are struggling to acquire ammunition and have even developed a bartering system with other police departments to keep up with demand.
“In the past, $3,000 would get us several rifles or a great deal of ammunition. But we have seen prices go up 30, 40, 50 percent,” Arthur told NBC affiliate KJRH. “In addition…the time to get it could be six months to a year, or in some cases even longer.”
Arthur’s department is just one of many local police departments across the country finding itself unable to afford new weapons and running low on ammunition supply.
According to Chief Dayne Pryor of Rollingwood, Texas, in the Austin suburbs, he could be on the waiting list for new stock for up to a year. “We have to limit the amount of times we go and train because we want to keep an adequate stock,” Pryor told NBC affiliate KXAN.
Sgt. Jason LaCross of Bozeman, Mont. echoed that sentiment. “Nobody can get us ammunition at this point,” he told NBC Montana.
Some officers are even shelling out money from their own pockets to buy new firearms while their police departments find themselves relying on donations by the military and private citizens.
“Most police departments are having a very difficult time even getting the necessary ammunition for handguns, shotguns and especially rifles,” Arthur told KJRH. “With the delay in ammunition, some departments are limiting the number of rounds they carry in their handgun because of the shortage of ammunition. We get to the point where it is difficult to have enough ammo to train and also equip the officers.”
Arthur’s main concern is protecting not only his town but also his officers.
“Statistics would show that about one out of every five officers that are killed are killed with an assault-type rifle,”Arthur continued. “We are being out-armed and out-manned in regard to these type of weapons day in and day out. So it is critical that we have access to superior fire power.”
