Paper advocates ammo sales restrictions
In an article in a San Antonio paper, Todd Bensman seems distraught that ammo can be readily purchased just like any other lawful commodity:
So popular is the 7.62 mm ammunition for AK-47 assault rifles that one store in this border city stacks shoebox-size cases several feet high down half a row in the hunting section.
Employees like Francisco Rodriguez, who works in the guns and ammo section of Academy Sports and Outdoors, tell stories about men piling shopping carts high with the $74 cases of 7.62 mm rounds, as well as clearing shelves of other ammunition for assault-style rifles. Several employees at other South Texas stores said customers routinely pay thousands in cash and wheel the stuff out, no questions asked.
“I had a guy come in the other day and clear me out of .223s,” Rodriguez said of ammunition that fits assault-type rifles as well as classic hunting rifles. “He paid $5,000 cash, and then he went to one of our other stores and cleaned that out, too. I didn’t ask what he was going to do with it. It isn’t my business to ask. They’re probably taking it over to Mexico.”
There is nothing illegal about such transactions.
ZOMG! Lawful commerce is, err, lawful. But there should be a law, right? At least, that’s the implication. Don’t go to Wal-Mart then. And:
Bullets carry no serial numbers that can be traced to a particular store or a purchaser, like a gun can.
More advocacy of gun laws. All this ammo, he says, finds it’s way into Mexico. And ATF is looking at stopping that. You know what could stop it that doesn’t involve punishing the law-abiding? Border control and a fence.
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:34 am
They’re running a series like this in TEXAS!?!?
No wonder newspapers are dying.
What is astounding is that several layers of managers and editors gave this series the green light and I suspect not once did they think that their readers might just find it offensive.
Yosemite Sam, proudly newspaper subscription free since 2003
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:47 am
At $74/case I’d buy as much of it as I could too.
Much better investment than anything on Wall Street.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:00 am
I wonder if Todd would have an issue with his blood and semen being put on a federal database, and require him some manditory rape sensitivity training so he can properly own his penis.
I mean if all us gun-owners are running them into Mexic, all men must be rapists!
…if it saves just one life….
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:04 am
Whatever law he has in mind will work at least as well as the drug laws that keep our country safe and free.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:36 am
My question why are we wasting time and money searching vehicles leaving the country when we don’t have enough manpower to search the ones coming into the country?
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:37 am
I wish I could find it for $74 a case.
December 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I love the article’s great source of a clerk at Academy who thinks they might be taking the ammo to Mexico. You know, the country where they’ll throw someone in prison for having some old brass in the bed of your truck.
I love those umimpeachable sources that probably make 7 bucks and hour and have nothing better to do than bullshit with newspaper reporters.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
So this is the reason that ammo and black rifle prices have been going up so rapidly.
We are apparently sending guns and ammo to Mexico that we need here.
This needs to stop.
The Texas dealers need to send their guns and ammo northeast, not across the border.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
.223 at $75 a case? Is this like the other reporter who said he saw a fully automatic Glock at a gun show for $150?
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
workinwifdakids:
No, that was the “7.62 mm ammunition for AK-47 assault rifles” at $74 a case.
Remember to a reporter a case could mean – object containing ammo.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Yesterday afternoon I was shopping at my local Academy Sporting Goods Store. While these stores are always a fine source of firearm bargains, I can state with great surety that mine has no such bargain ammunition, neither 7.62 for AKs, nor .223 for M-16s. Darn it.
However, they do always stock .303 British for my SMLE “assault bol- action rifle” with a 10 round magazine and a bayonet lug. What kind of person needs such a high powered rifle with a bayonet on it? Well, it was made in 1917 in what was then Great Britain – surely there was something going on the that made such a rifle useful….
December 23rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Reports are that purchasing at Academy made a minor oopise during the summer Instead of ordering 70,000 cases they ordered 700,000 cases. Hence the sale once the semis full of ammo started showing up at the Academy distribution center in September/October.
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I note without surprise that the paper does not allow comments. Heaven forbid they let us peons tell them what we think about such stories, right?
Can’t have that. Might have their preconceived notions about firearms challenged by people who actually know what they are talking about…
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Man, a case of 7.62X9 is selling for about 230 bucks here in the midwest, where the heck are the deals at #74.00 Almost worth a drive down to TX!!!
December 24th, 2008 at 7:12 am
For 74 bucks a case, I would buy 5000 dollars worth too.
Cases currently go for over 200 bucks. Even if you don’t use it yourself, you can resell it and triple your money.