Whether you are a gun owner or a gun hater, you want to feel safe.
And to do that - law enforcement must be at the top of their game each and every day.
But, the ability for them to do that may be at risk in the QCA.
And it's because of an ammunition shortage.
All officers and troopers in Iowa and Illinois must pass certain qualification shooting tests every year to be in the force.
But that takes practice and without extra ammunition - it's tough to shoot a gun.
But where has it all the ammo gone?
Simply - people are buying it. Lots of it.
"Right now, people are trying to get as much ammunitions as they can get their hands on," Says Shooting Sports Owner, Tim Baldwin.
He says people fear the government is going to take their guns away so they are flocking to the shelves - stocking their stores.
And now, it may affect how local law enforcement does their job.
Jeff Boyd, Rock Island County Sheriff says,"We're being told by our supplier that speculation is up and the supply is dwindling as the demand (for ammunition) increases."
Many departments across the QCA bought their large, year supply stocks of ammunitions last year.
And even then, they began to feel the pinch of an ammo shortage.
"Even last year we felt a little squeeze," explains Maj. Mike Brown of Scott County. "It was taking longer for us to get the ammo that we needed."
"It could affect training," says Brown. "It could affect the amount of times we train and practice... We train off and on throughout the year and we may have to cut down on those trainings."
While leaders admit budgets are tight - they realize that while they may have to trim the fat when it comes to ammo - money will have to come from somewhere to cover the basics.
Something Sheriff Boyd understands completely.
"It's just something were going to have to bite the bullet on and do, so to speak... No pun intended."
