# Why are people in the southeast hoarding/stockpiling ammo? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 20, 2013, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198 "2013-04-20T07:36:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/81 "2013-04-20T22:54:19Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You can own a machine gun with full automatic capability but that requires a specific (and expensive) license to own. There is no license required, and the tax stamp for such a firearm is less than 5% of the purchase. A person pays $200 for the tax stamp, and even the cheapest full auto rifles will cost 6-7 thousands. Some machineguns cost over 50 or 60 thousand dollars. The cost is due to the limited supply, nothing else. A $900 full automatic would cost a civilian 7 or 8 thousand dollars to own legally. They are expensive, but it isn’t because of any license fee. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/82 "2013-04-20T23:27:46Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > There is no license required, it requires a permit. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/83 "2013-04-20T23:51:42Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > it requires a permit. Maybe in _your_ jurisdiction. Not in every state and county. The federal government does not require a permit. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/84 "2013-04-20T23:59:53Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > A > 3. In common military terminology, assault rifle is a term that’s been around for about 50 years to refer to the “main battle rifles” adopted by most military forces in the 1960s and onward. These weapons are rifles that are selective fire. Selective fire means a switch can choose to fire it as an automatic weapon, or a semiautomatic weapon. They also have a detachable magazine. That is the primary definition of assault rifle: selective fire between automatic and semiautomatic, and it has a detachable magazine. If I may offer to improve your definition a bit, an assault rifle is also, by definition, a RIFLE, e.g. a long-barrelled weapon, designed to be fired most accurately from the shoulder, firing ammunition designed to suit such a weapon. You could have a selective-fire, magazine-fed submachine gun, but that isn’t exactly an assault rifle. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/85 "2013-04-21T03:30:18Z")
This phenomenon is taking place in Ohio as well, so it’s not specific to the Southeast. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/86 "2013-04-21T03:47:04Z")
When the President himself does not know what an automatic weapon is, it is no wonder there is quite a bit of frustration when trying to reason with people concerned about guns and the law. The way the DHS request is playing out is more of the same. :mad: The DHS issue stems from a request which allows for that amount over a five year period for any purpose for 90 agencies it comprises. The request lined out is for some 65 million rounds per year. [But isn’t a total which might approach 90 or 100 million rounds per year excessive?](http://blogs.militarytimes.com/gearscout/2013/03/15/homeland-securitys-ammunition-purchases-should-not-worry-you/) DHS is a massive umbrella agency, with over 100,000 armed law enforcement personnel according to a DHS spokesperson. If we divide 90 million by 100,000, that means each agent gets 900 rounds per year to shoot. That isn’t a whole lot, considering that civilians going through handgun training courses sometimes shoot twice as many rounds – in a single weekend. Furthermore, federal agents, including those under DHS, generally use the same ammunition for duty and practice. Currently, it’s a .40 S&W jacketed hollow point made by Federal, commonly known as the HST. Most of DHS’s evil, banned-for-war, elderly-and-baby-killing hollow points end up going through paper targets and into dirt berms. Each CBP (Customs and Border Protection) agent is currently given 250 rounds per quarter, or 1000 rounds per year. While things may differ from agency to agency, that lines up fairly nicely with the above math for the 450 million round contract. In other words, that 5-year, up-to-450 million round ammo purchase is just what the agencies need to sustain proficiency for the next 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/87 "2013-04-21T03:55:14Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Maybe in _your_ jurisdiction. Not in every state and county. The federal government does not require a permit. [Does](http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/rpt/2009-R-0020.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/88 "2013-04-21T04:05:42Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I just posted a magazine size law that was enacted in NY. Surely you understand the angst gun owners experience every time a politician says their law is not meant to go any further. Look at cigarets. It was just one law after another. Look at amnesty for immigrants. We already gave a one time amnesty to illegal immigrants. When you start adding up all the one-time laws regarding anything then it starts to add up. The only way to stop this on a realistic level is to draw a line in the sand and say this is where the regulations stop or we will object strenuously. I’m not a gun owner but I understand the NRA’s position based on the past examples of laws passed. Don’t worry, they’ve repeatedly told you there will be no regulations involving crockpot ownership. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/89 "2013-04-21T05:07:43Z")
Re: the OP, isn’t this about the time of year all those damned college kids head to the Southeast for Springbreak? Coincidence? I think not. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/90 "2013-04-21T05:09:14Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Also if by .22 you mean the common .22LR cartridge I am not familiar with any assault rifles that use that round but it’s not impossible. Depends upon your definition of ‘assault rifle’. The popular Ruger 10/22 rifle can be modified with a wide range of accessories to meet most people’s definition of assault rifle. All the images in this link are the same Ruger 10/22. The average person would see quite a few ‘assault rifles’ in these pictures, but they are essentially all the same gun. > **[ruger 10/22 - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=ruger%2B10%2F22&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=JXJzUfHONOazigKzqYH4DQ&sqi=2&ved=0CFkQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=934)** > [@Mr.Slant](#): > > This phenomenon is taking place in Ohio as well, so it’s not specific to the Southeast. It is all over the US. I am in the NW and the situation is the same here. My Cabellas order has been back ordered for 4 months. I just let it ride in case it ever gets shipped. Fortunately I have a local gun shop that seems to be able to get stock. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/91 "2013-04-21T21:57:39Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > You were correct; OP is trolling. I vote to lock this thread. **Moderator Warning** **Crafter\_Man** , while you don’t get a vote, you do have the opportunity to report threads and posts that you think are a problem. You haven’t done so. However, you’ve been around long enough to know that accusations of trolling are not permitted outside the Pit. This is an official warning. > [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I also wonder about disingenuous questions. **Moderator Note** **Leo Bloom** , rather than wondering about it in the thread you should report it. No warning issued, but in the future don’t make remarks like this. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/92 "2013-04-21T22:02:50Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > And even if that weren’t true, you have no reason to be jerks in GQ. If you can’t answer or have an agenda, you have plenty of other forums to play in. > [@Troppus](#): > > Hey, here’s an idea. Would you like photos of the guns, safe, and/or trophies in my home? Do I owe a handful of snide, paranoid posters that evidence? Doubt it, but I’m game. You guys give yourselves a bad name. You don’t need curious people like me to do that. **Moderator Warning** **Troppus** , while the correct procedure if you feel you are being insulted in GQ is to report the post, that doesn’t permit you to turn around and be insulting back. This is an official warning. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198/93 "2013-04-21T22:09:10Z")
Since the OP has received ample factual information regarding his questions, and has said he isn’t interested in a debate, I’m closing this. Anyone who wants to pursue further discussion can do so in Great Debates. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-in-the-southeast-hoarding-stockpiling-ammo/656198.md?page=4)