Bullet Shortage

"The metric system did not really catch on in the States, unless you count the increasing popularity of the 9mm bullet." - Dave Barry

Yes, my friends, in today's America we suffer from many shortages. We are short of affordable health care, affordable housing, civility, clean air and water, quality and affordable elder care, and adult leadership in Congress.

Another thing we're short of is ammunition.

According to this and other recent articles (including Mike's post of last Sunday), US citizens are suffering from a critical shortage of bullets to fill up those arms the Second Amendment to the Constitution gives them the right to bear. There are two major reasons for this: the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which are leading the Army to buy enormous quantities of bullets (which are said to quickly cure individual cases of radical Islamism); and the prevalent hysteria that the Obama administration is going to suddenly send swarms of jackbooted thugs to our homes to pry our guns out of our cold, dead hands.

"We are working overtime and still can't keep up with the demand," said a spokesman for Remington Arms Company, which makes bullets for rifles, handguns and shotguns. "We've had to add a fourth shift and go 24-7. It's a phenomenon that I have not seen before in my 30 years in the business."

According to the National Rifle Association, the nation's premier gun rights group, Americans usually buy about 7 billion rounds of ammunition a year. In the past year, says NRA spokeswoman Vickie Cieplak, that figure has soared to about 9 billion rounds.

Nine billion bullets.

And that doesn't even count all the bullets bought by the Army and by police departments around the country.

Why do I not feel especially safe?

Baring arms is fine for Michelle Obama and other buff young ladies.

Bearing arms is problematic for those to whom rights are more important than responsibilities.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo