Ammo In Short Supply For Some Oklahoma Law Enforcement Agencies

The rising cost of ammunition has gun owners paying more than twice what they were four years ago. And while supply and demand is affecting the average Oklahoman, it's also having an impact on those who protect us.

A number of Oklahoma police departments say their ammunition is not only in short supply, but that the wait to get more keeps getting longer.

"America's in a state of panic right now, because they are afraid they are gonna lose their Second Amendment rights," said Sgt. Keith Prince, of the Catoosa Police Department.

Prince said that fear is fueling the demand for ammunition, but that it's only part of the reason why the inventory at some police departments is running low.

"When we went to war overseas, the ammo supply shifted from civilian use to military use," Prince said.

He said ordering more ammo would normally take a few weeks; something that would take up to nine months now.

And now, trading with other agencies, like they've done in the past, is longer feasible possible, when other departments don't want to part with their own supply.

The Catoosa Police Department says limited supply is only partly to blame. The price of 40 caliber ammunition, like they use in their side arms, has more than doubled since 2009, the department says. That's forcing them to cut back on how often they train, and how many rounds they fire out at the range.

"Guys are bringing their own ammunition, they're spending money out of their own pocket, to be able to train," Prince said.

Oklahoma State Trooper Betsy Randolph said the shortage hasn't hit OHP as hard as some agencies, but that the nearly 800 troopers have still had to cut down on trips to the range.

"It is affecting us in that we don't have the extra ammunition to do addition training, above our normal qualification that we do," Randolph said.

Randolph said troopers carry three weapons that they have to be certified on every year. That could become more difficult in the future, if the short supply continues. She said they may have to modify their training, if it keeps up.

And Sgt. Prince said losing that time at the gun range could be bad for officers.

"It's a skill, and without that practice, you lose that skill," Prince said.

The Glenpool Police Department said, they, too are seeing an extended wait to get ammo.

We also talked with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. They said they planned ahead and bought in bulk before the shortage took place.