News - Local News

POSTED: Thursday, Jul. 24, 2008

Ammunition prices squeeze law enforcement budgets

A global shortage of precious metals has created an unpleasant reality for gun owners - higher ammunition prices.

For recreational owners, that means fewer hunting trips and days at the shooting range.

But for Whatcom County law enforcement agencies, it means reconsidering how they train officers and balance their budgets.

Many are requesting more money to cover the higher prices. Some types of ammunition have almost doubled in price in the last year, Whatcom County Sheriff's Deputy Bryan Collins said.

The Sheriff's Office's ammunition purchases will be, on average, 41 percent more expensive.

"The price of doing our business has gone up just like everyone else," Lynden Police Chief Jack Foster said. "It's just something we'll have to live with. That's not something you can skimp on."

WHAT'S DRIVING HIGH PRICES

China is snapping up lead, copper and brass to fuel its industrial growth, which means less metal on the world market to make bullets.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to use up a lot of the bullets that are made, which means fewer -especially rifle rounds - are available for purchase in the U.S.

Buyers are either swallowing the higher prices or not buying, said Robert Clarke, sporting goods manager at Yeager's Sporting Goods.

Clarke said the metal market would need time to adjust and meet the added demand, so prices aren't likely to go down anytime soon.

"It makes it kind of hard for the little man, that's for sure," Clarke said. "China is booming, and I suspect it's not going to slow down any time soon."

AGENCIES INCREASE SPENDING

Several agencies order ammunition through a state contract and so far have dodged the higher costs by ordering in bulk under last year's contract, which was cheaper, Ferndale Police Sgt. Bill Hatchett said.

That's not an option for ordering for next year, though, because prices for many types of ammunition have almost doubled under the new contract.

The Bellingham Police Department wants to increase its ammunition budget, which was $15,000 for this year, by 20 percent to 30 percent, Lt. Mark Gill said.

The Lynden Police Department will request more money in next year's budget to cover the higher costs, Foster said.

Blaine and Ferndale police departments are too early in their budgeting processes to estimate if they will request more money for ammunition.

NEW WAYS TO TRAIN

To conserve ammunition and cut costs, the Bellingham Police Department is limiting the number of times officers can retake firearms qualification courses and is changing its training practices, Gill said.

"We want to provide the same training but use fewer bullets," Gill said. "As with any challenge with budget items, you need to look at how you do business and ask if you can do it differently."

Before, officers could retake qualification courses they had already passed to get higher scores. Gill said they can still do this but have to pay for the ammunition.

In training scenarios, the department will use more nonlethal bullets that are tipped with colored soap. The increase was planned regardless of the high prices, but it will save on real bullets, Officer Don Almer said.

The Sheriff's Office wants to buy cheaper ammunition that provides similar performance. It's still looking at suppliers, Collins said. It's also using simulator training for patrol and corrections deputies, which saves some ammunition.

Everson Police Department is using video simulators in lieu of one of the weapons-qualification courses officers must pass each year, Chief Erik Ramstead said.

Ramstead said the simulator allows officers to fire electronic guns with realistic recoil at different targets on the video screen.

"We're looking at, 'What's the best bang for our buck in terms of training?' " Ramstead said. "We have an obligation to taxpayers to do things in the most cost-efficient way possible."