Illinois Department of Corrections buying ammo on (not very good) credit

St Louis Gun Rights Examiner ^ | 9 April, 2010 | Kurt Hoffman

[marktwain]

Illinois gun blogger Thirdpower notes that the state's budget is in such dire straits that the state prison system is finding it difficult to buy ammunition.

The Illinois Department of Corrections was forced to make an emergency purchase of ammunition last month because of the state's inability to pay its bills.

The purchase happened after one of the state's ammunition vendors, Shore Galleries Inc., refused to ship bullets unless the company was paid upfront. The state owes the Lincoln-wood firm $6,000.

The department was able to find a new vendor quickly in Indiana and ordered 761,000 rounds for nearly $200,000.

The Illinois Department of Corrections budget problems are hardly new--back last October, the decision was made to release about 1700 supposedly "non-violent" inmates early, to cut costs. That decision didn't work out so well.

Gov. Pat Quinn admitted Wednesday that state corrections officials made a "mistake" in putting hundreds of inmates back on the street after just a few weeks in prison and said he didn't know about his own administration's cost-cutting decision beforehand.

The officials "made a mistake," alright:

[marktwain]

Is Illinois entirely broken and infected with the corruption of Chicago.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

It’s not like anyone else in Ill. is buying ammo.

[Bernard]

Gee, when Barack Obama sends all the Gitmo people to that prison in Illinois, they will have to have John Kerry show up and show them how to prepare and store spritballs in case something bad happens. He’ll have to bring Barney Frank with him, to ensure an ample supply of spit.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

...ordered 761,000 rounds for nearly $200,000.

Here is Texas, we call that a fun weekend. ;o)

[Loud Mime]

You only need ONE bullet!

[Fido969]

The purchase happened after one of the state's ammunition vendors, Shore Galleries Inc., refused to ship bullets unless the company was paid upfront. The state owes the Lincoln-wood firm $6,000.

The department was able to find a new vendor quickly in Indiana and ordered 761,000 rounds for nearly $200,000.

I don't get it - they stiffed the old supplier for $6,000, then found a new sucker to send them $200,000 worth of merchandise?

Why didn't they just pay the old supplier the $6,000 they owed him?

[Cheetahcat]

They did not pay their $6000.00 Bill but bought 200 K from another supplier??

[Mark was here]

How many prisoners do they shoot a year?

[GenXteacher]

They probably charged it to the second sucker. They’ll just stiff them for the $200 grand later.

[Gilbo_3]

if they disarm the convicts, they wouldnt need 700k rounds ???

[Mr Ramsbotham]

He’ll have to bring Barney Frank with him, to ensure an ample supply of spit.

Barney doesn't spit.

[SmokingJoe]

"I don't get it - they stiffed the old supplier for $6,000, then found a new sucker to send them $200,000 worth of merchandise?

Why didn't they just pay the old supplier the $6,000 they owed him?"

Same reason a grifter swindles someone in one town, then swiftly moves on to the next town, where no one knows him, to con somoeone else out of money?

[Lazamataz]

None of this makes the slightest bit of sense.

Why so many rounds? Why charge 200,000 when paying 6,000 is actually the smarter move? Who's the buck-idiot who agreed to that charge after they just stiffed someone else for a much smaller charge?

[niteowl77]

Here is Texas, we call that a fun weekend. ;o)

I need to move to Texas.

Your comment brought one of my favorite RGS moments to mind: Unsafe

Mr. niteowl77

[blaveda]

This make total “cents” to me...let's see, I owe my vendor $6,000 big ones but they have the temerity to request COD? Well then, since I have been totally humiliated I'll go the other vendor and purchase $200,000 worth of ammo from another vendor just to teach that opportunistic, greedy capitalist pig a lesson. You can betcha that there is not enough money left to pay the $6,000 debt! Did they purchase $200,000 worth ammo based on their sterling credit rating?

[pnh102]

Something is fishy here. How much ammunition would the Department of Corrections go through in a given year? Is it so high that it has to be replenished frequently?

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

That was funny. Never seen it before. And, there is plenty of room here if ya want to move.

[6SJ7]

I don't get it - they stiffed the old supplier for $6,000, then found a new sucker to send them $200,000 worth of merchandise?

If you or I tried this, we'd do jail time for a con. When the government does it, it's called business as usual.

[niteowl77]

Niteowl77 and I drove to the Temple/Killeen area last month to visit our son who is stationed at Ft. Hood. If I thought he’d be staying there, I’d pull up stakes and go... and the way Iowa has allowed itself to be turned into a prairie New Jersey, I might do it anyway.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Best decision we ever made, and paying dividends daily/monthly/yearly.