SAF.org

[Last weeks'] release of aggregate gun trace data in the New York City region by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) once again puts the lie to long-standing claims by Mayor Michael Bloomberg that this data is not available to law enforcement, the Second Amendment Foundation said.

Click 'Read More' for the entire press release.

The Fresno (CA) Bee is reporting that the cost of ammunition is rising, with retailers saying prices have climbed between about 10% and 20% this year -- and some even higher.

From the story:

"As a percentage, it's the biggest we've experienced in my lifetime," said Barry Bauer, president of Herb Bauer Sporting Goods in Fresno.

Ammunition made from copper, lead and brass is affected.

The cost of a box of 25 shotgun shells used for dove hunting went from $3.99 to $4.89 since the beginning of the year, for example.

The increase isn't drastic and hasn't appeared to deter hunters, but it has inspired grumblings among customers and put an extra burden on some police departments.

Mark Sasser of Fresno said the extra dollars haven't stopped him from hunting deer, wild hogs and the occasional bear.

"The ammunition that I used to buy for $21, $22 a box is up in the $30 range," he said. Yet, "in the big scheme of things, it's not huge."

Tony Aeschliman, a spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, told the newspaper that several factors are driving the rising prices, including increasing demand and the cost of metals used to make bullets.

Eric Wittenauer, an industrial metals analyst at A.G. Edwards in St. Louis, is quoted as saying metals prices have climbed dramatically. Copper contracts that traded at $1.40 a pound in 2004 and 2005 are selling at $3.24 a pound.

Demand is also up: