Ammo and Gun Shortage

The morning TV news reporter was interviewing a gun store owner about an alleged shortage of guns and ammo. The store owner said that what he called a "shortage" was caused by fear of economic hard times where self-defense could become a priority and fear of government action that might end or restrict gun rights. The store owner claimed that the stockpiling of guns and ammo is due to people being motivated by fear. Does merchandise leaving a store create a real shortage in the traditional sense where demand exceeds supply? Stockpiling only causes a temporary shortage in one link of the supply chain. The store will restock as soon as its suppliers can deliver goods. In the short term, the "stockpilers" have a window of opportunity for profiteering, if others are sucked into the hysteria of irrational fear and create a greater demand. In the long term, should future government action indeed restrict the type of weapons and ammunition available, the stockpilers will be positioned to profit as others seek to obtain proscribed weapons and ammunition. For example, it is rumored that assault weapons will be banned and that each round of ammunition will have to bear a serial number to trace ownership. In this case, buyers would be forced to turn to a clandestine or "black" market to acquire banned goods, which would benefit "gun rights advocates" who stocked up on ammo and guns they had no intention of using personally. Frankly, I've got another name for them: entrepreneur. As always, follow the money.