Law enforcement agencies across the country, including right here in southwest Virginia, are dealing with an ammunition shortage as the gun control debate continues in Washington.
"We've been having trouble for several years, obtaining rifle ammunition, in some cases we've had ammunition orders backed up for over a year," said Lieutenant Chuck Mason.
He attributes that to one thing.
"The vendors from whom we're buying the ammunition attribute this mostly to military demand," said Mason.
But the causes for other deficits aren't as obvious.
"We've been having trouble for over a year, getting handgun ammunition and we're less clear on the reasons for that," said Mason.
With no end in sight to this trend, law enforcement agencies are being extra cautious with their supply.
"We're reworking our training to keep the skill of our officers up but making more efficient use of the ammunition that we have," said Mason.
Some blame the shortfall on recent violence like the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting.
Officers we spoke to say, this shortage, although inconvenient, is not affecting their ability to keep the community safe.
