The United States has experienced an ammunition shortage for nearly two years. Hunters, firearms enthusiasts, and even some law enforcement agencies have scrambled for ammo and had to pay much higher prices than usual. The shortage has been attributed to pandemic-era supply constraints brought about by the explosion of new gun owners around the country since the start of 2020. Ammunition manufacturers have increased production, but the shortage is expected to last for a while. 

But that hasn’t stopped NASCAR team owner Richard Childress from pledging to buy and donate one million rounds of ammunition for fighters in Ukraine. 

Childress, the owner of Richard Childress Racing, appeared on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends,” and announced that he is working with Ammo, Inc. to provide Ukrainians with ammo in response to Russia’s invasion. Childress is on the board of Ammo, Inc. The Drive reported on Childress’ announcement earlier this week. 

“I was listening the other day to (Ukrainian) President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy say he didn't want out, he wanted ammunition,” Childress said. “I called my good friend Fred Wagenhals, who is the Chairman of Ammo, Inc., and I said, ‘Fred, we have to help these people. They need ammunition.’ He stepped right up.”

Childress said he’ll work with a private company and government agencies to deliver the ammunition to Ukraine.

“The number one ammo they're needing right now over there is the 7.62s, and that's what we're going to be producing,” he said.

Childress also said that he will ask NASCAR that drivers be allowed to show support for Ukraine on their race cars. 

In other interviews, Childress said he has received many offers to help with the effort to deliver the ammunition. Childress also said he is trying to “get waivers” to ship the ammunition to Ukraine. Ammo, Inc. made the pledge of one million rounds official in a press release this week.

“Ammo Inc., and we as Americans stand firmly in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, as we stand for freedom and democracy everywhere,” Wagenhals said in the release. “While we fervently hope for a quick and peaceful resolution to the crisis and that diplomacy will win the day, we condemn the Russian aggression and its threat to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and freedom. We recognize that events are unfolding rapidly on the ground in Ukraine, and we are prepared to move quickly as possible to support Ukraine as it continues to defend itself and its freedom.” 

According to the New York Times, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick has pledged to donate $2,000 to Ukraine relief for each lap led by any of the four cars on his team at the NASCAR event this Sunday in Las Vegas.

It’s uncertain how Ammo, Inc.’s decision to supply one million rounds of ammunition will square with the current shortages of ammo and whether the shipment of the ammo to Ukraine could exacerbate the domestic ammo supply situation in the short term.  Ammo, Inc., is building a new manufacturing facility in Wisconsin, that is set to come online this summer.

The United States government is also supplying significant aid to Ukraine. According to the Washington Post, the White House has asked Congress for $10 billion in aid to Ukraine as part of a $32.5 billion overall budget request that also includes pandemic aid. It’s part of talks to continue funding the government and avoid a shutdown. 

The White House and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) are at odds over whether the money from Ukraine should come from previously appropriated funds or new money. 

Ukraine recently received a large cache of over 12 million in ammunition cartridges from neighboring Poland. Several NATO countries have also contributed arms to the effort in Ukraine, including more than 150,000 rounds of ammunition from Finland. 

Meanwhile, Russia has had an unrelated role in the ammunition shortage. In August 2021, the State Department announced sanctions on Russia in retaliation for its poisoning of political dissident Aleksey Navalny. Those sanctions included restrictions on Russian-made ammunition. 

Stephen Silver, a technology writer for The National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.

Image: Reuters.