The War at Home: Rationing Bullets for Local Police

The other day I read an article in the Washington Post that caught my eye. It was more of a local story than a national one, but the headline was arresting: "Police Feel Wartime Pinch on Ammo: Target Practice Cut To Conserve Bullets." According to the article, the demand for small-arms ammunition to outfit American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan has begun to affect police departments in the DC-metro area. Due to slow delivery of new rounds of ammunition, officials in three local counties are rationing bullets provided to officers and cutting back on target practice. This made me think about the war at home... the last time we really talked about it at length was after Katrina hit, when the lack of National Guard troops (and equipment) available to help with the rescue and recovery became shockingly clear. That made us wonder: how does the war manifest at home for you? How has your community changed or adapted due to changes forced by our military commitments abroad? If we come up with enough examples, we're thinking of doing some shows on this... so please leave your stories in the comments section, and if you've got articles from your local news outlets, we'd love to see those too!

9:37 AM ET | 08-29-2007 | permalink

 

Comments (Send a comment)

It's also not true. In fact, it's a dirty lie. Budget constraints and higher prices have lead to police ammo shortages.

It's virtually impossible for the military to cause this kind of problem. We make our own and don't comete with the civilian and law enforcement markets.

Sent by RTO Trainer | 2:28 PM ET | 08-29-2007

"...when the lack of National Guard troops (and equipment) available to help with the rescue and recovery became shockingly clear."

The largest domestic National guard depolyment in history and you cite a lack of manpower and equipment? It's not true and saying it was won't make it so.

Less than 1/3 of the LA Army Guard was out of the state. Virtualy all of the Air Guard was home. The idea that the Guard was "gone" was as overblown and exagerated as with Greenburg, KS.

Sent by RTO Trainer | 3:32 PM ET | 08-29-2007

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