Is the Obama Administration Responsible for the Ammunition Shortage?

You've probably seen the articles about the government (Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration etc) placing orders for more rounds of ammunition per person than is currently used by the military in a year. Some have said that the Obama Administration was stockpiling ammo so you and I could not buy it.

Frank Miniter has an interesting article on the question over at Forbes. In short, Miniter suggests that Obama's part in the shortage is due to the record increase in firearms sales since he took office. With more people buying firearms, there is an obvious correlation between the number of firearms and the amount of ammo needed to use them.

“The biggest change I see this year is that people in their twenties and thirties have become a bigger part of the market,” says Rob Southwick of Southwick Associates, Inc. “Those in this demographic are now buying rifles—especially modern sporting rifles—and they’re shooting for fun.”

Miniter talked to a lot of people in the industry for the article. It's a good read.