Hunters and outdoorsmen are all too familiar with the ammunition shortage sweeping the nation, making it hard to get certain types of ammo and causing long lines at suppliers when shipments do come in.
Although the shortage is unfortunate for those who enjoy hunting doves, turkey or deer, it could have caused a much larger problem in Dallas County.
The Selma Police Department and Dallas County Sheriff’s Department don’t have a shortcut to get ammunition, meaning they have to order it like the rest of us. In other words, the shortage affects them in the same way it affects anyone else.
Don’t be concerned though, because excellent planning by the departments have left supply in excellent demand.
The departments properly planned ahead and have plenty of ammunition in its reserves.
How bad is the shortage?
Sgt. Tory Neely, with the Selma Police Department, said if the department wants to have bullets on the firing range eight months from now, it needs to order them now.
But here’s the point — the department is ordering ahead. They have ammo available because they have already thought this through and know how long it takes to get ammo, whether it is three months, six months, or a year.
And the sheriff’s department has been forced to delay the use of new weapons, because that ammunition is in such high demand. But they have planned ahead, and have ample ammunition for their other weapons, and are well prepared to train on those weapons – and in the unfortunate event where they are needed – to use them in the line of duty.
That’s the kind of long-term thinking that we typically forget happens behind the scenes day-to-day.
While we go about our every day life, the department is quietly thinking ahead in order to protect the public as best as possible and we should all be thankful for that.
Our police officers need ammunition in order to ensure our safety and their own, although we all hope they never have to actually pull a weapon on anyone.
With the cost of ammuniton continuing to rise, the department has even taken the extra steps to try to save a dollar or two. When the officers finish shooting at the firing range, they pick up the cases and send them back to the manufacturer to get some money back. The money received is then placed into the department’s ammunition fund, which is then used to buy more ammunition later.
The shortage has shown no signs of slowing down, with stores selling out of ammo as soon as they get it in. Local retailers such as the Central Alabama Farmer’s Co-Op and Rountree Oudoors have said in past interviews that consumers have called from all different parts of the country to try to find ammo to order.
Hopefully one day in the near future, the rush for ammunition will end and everyone can return to their normal buying habits.
Until then, we are thankful to have a police department thinking months in advance to make sure its supply is plentiful.