Nearly 80,000 Ammunition Rounds Seized From Home
The Indy Channel ^ | 08/31/07
Posted on 08/31/2007 9:16:22 AM PDT by Abathar
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Authorities said they removed nearly 80,000 rounds of ammunition from the home of a South Bend man who warned that the world was going to end.
South Bend police and federal agents blocked off streets around Kevin Rieder's home for six hours Wednesday while they removed the ammunition.
Rieder, 38, was arrested Wednesday and charged with illegal possession of ammunition while subject to a restraining order, Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Schmidt said.
The restraining order had been taken out by an ex-girlfriend, Schmidt said.
Rieder told employees at a gun shop where he bought 18,000 rounds that he believed the world was going to end, officials said.
He was in custody Friday morning, awaiting a Tuesday bail and detention hearing.........................................................................................................................................................................
Statewide
A Maine State Police trooper shoots at a target during firearms requalification at the Hampden Pistol and Rifle Club shooting range Wednesday. (Bangor Daily News/Gabor Degre)
There has been a recent shortage of ammunition for several different calibers of guns at sporting goods stores in Maine. (Bangor Daily News/Gabor Degre)
Bangor Police Sgt. Robert Bishop (left) and Sgt. Allen Hayden (not pictured) are the officers in charge of the shooting range at the Bangor Police Department. Sgt. Bishop said that the price of ammunition has nearly doubled in the past eight months due to the increased demand associated with the war in Iraq, causing a slight shortage nation wide. (Bangor Daily News/Gabor Degre)
Increase in ammunition prices hits local police, sportsmen
By Mal Leary, Capitol News ServiceAUGUSTA, Maine - Because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and increasing prices for raw metals, police and sportsmen in Maine are paying higher prices for ammunition, some of which is now scarce.
Earlier this year, the Maine State Police had to settle for a partial shipment of ammunition so they would have enough for training purposes but got hit with an additional $1,000 shipping charge because the shipment was partial, Maj. Dale Lancaster said. They got 40,000 practice rounds for their pistols and 14,000 rounds for other weapons.
"We were able to get the ammunition, but it did cost us more," said Lancaster. "We use a lot of ammo every year for practice and for the troopers to qualify with their weapon."
He said the state police "are going to order soon for next year because it took so long to get this shipment. And we expect prices will be going up again, but I am not sure by how much."
Bangor Police Chief Ron Gastia said his force is still waiting for ammunition ordered last year and is planning to order early in the current fiscal year, which began July 1.
"The cost of ammunition has gone up significantly and we don’t see any change on that in the near future," he said. "In fact, I expect it to go up even more."
Gastia said Bangor has 76 officers and they all need to qualify at least twice a year to prove their proficiency with weapons. Each qualifying session uses at least 50 rounds of ammo.
"And that is not counting the practice rounds we use in various scenarios," he said. "So we are talking several hundred rounds per officer every year."
Lancaster said usage is similar with the state police, but they also have a special weapons team that trains and qualifies monthly. He said no one wants to cut back on the training and practice because that is fundamental to police being able to respond to any situation, even the rare gunfight with crooks.
"Nationally, it’s something like three rounds fired by an officer in a gunfight," he said. "It’s the training and proficiency with the weapon that pays off in those types of situations."
Lancaster said that like other police agencies, the state police have seen an increase in the cost of ammunition over the last several years, and he is concerned about how much the next order will cost.
The cost could be significant. Kim Adams, one of the owners of the Kittery Trading Post, said consumers can expect to pay 20 to 25 percent more this fall than they did a year ago, maybe more.
"We have been able to get supplies, except for a few specialized types of ammo used by the police and military," he said. "There have been times in the last two years or so where we had none of the 5.65, the standard NATO round."
Adams said the ammunition used by the police and military is manufactured by the same companies that make the ammo used by hunters and target shooters. With the military getting the priority for production, there have been shortages of some types of ammunition, and that — coupled with increases in the costs of the metals such as copper and lead — have driven the increases.
He said target shooters have been particularly hard hit by the increases and most now re-load shells to keep down costs. But, he said, the price of powder has also gone up.
Van Raymond, owner of Van Raymond Outfitters in Brewer, said there have been times when ammunition used by the military — such as .223-caliber and 9 mm rounds — has been in very short supply, or simply not available.
"We have seen several increases a year and nobody is talking about that stopping," he said. "I think 20 to 25 percent increases are in the ballpark, but I think it could be higher."
Raymond said sportsmen buying ammunition at his store have complained about the increases, but they still buy the ammo.
"People that are avid about hunting will pay the price," he said. They grumble "about it, but they will pay the price to enjoy the sport. They won’t be happy about it, and I don’t blame them."
George Smith, executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, was not aware of any complaints from his members about shortages of ammunition or the higher prices being paid.
"We’re paying a heavy price in Iraq," he said, "and the price of ammunition for Maine hunters is the least of it."
