I assume if enough vendors take this approach, the government reaction will be (if it isn't already) to force you to sell goods, and at a "reasonable" or, more likely, set price.

Either that or they will set up FEMA "stores" to sell all "needed" merchandise.

The US DOE is on the case as well.

At least there is a clear way to determine who the offenders are.

So far, there are allot of complaints and some are under "suspicion."

It is obviously the next logical step, since there is apparently a moral issue with profiting when people need something, whether they could have bought it the day before or not. Of course, the next step is to apply the rule to private citizens, not only public stores, so having bought supplies the day before only means you will be forced to give them away to those who didn't plan ahead the day of an emergency.

It should also be a crime to sell below the market clearing price – this has a very negative effect on human well being as has been pointed out in earlier EconTalk podcasts.

Depriving people of needed goods is terrible, but being put at the mercy of any scold or person with a grudge may be untenable.

I assume if enough vendors take this approach, the government reaction will be (if it isn't already) to force you to sell goods, and at a "reasonable" or, more likely, set price.