Canada’s 2 million gun owners are concerned. Their angst over ammo—or rather the quickly diminishing supply thereof—has led our northern neighbors to start hoarding .22-caliber ammunition, according to a report from the National Post.
Nearly all of Canada’s ammunition comes from the United States. But of the 4.2 billion rounds of .22 shells produced each year, 4 billion go to meet domestic demand—leaving very little for distribution in Canada. So Canadians are stockpiling, not only because availability is dwindling, but because prices are skyrocketing. Gun owners are shelling out up to $70 for 500 shells—what used to cost just $20.
“People are waiting outside places like Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire to purchase mass quantities, keeping it for themselves or reselling it," said Blair Hagen, executive vice president of Canada’s National Firearms Association.