And another popular right wing belief is that the government knows it is sinking rapidly and is preparing for population and riot controls.
Recent revelations about Department of Homeland Security purchasing 450 million rounds of .40 S&W Jacketed Hollow Point ammunition and the Social Security Administration buying 174,000 .40 S&W rounds have gotten alot of tonges wagging and fingers typing across the blogosphere.
450 million rounds of .40 caliber, purchased by DHS, over a several year (maximum of five) period of time equates to less than 1,400 rounds per year, per DHS law enforcement officer or agent. With annual qualification and training requiring less than 300 rounds per individual, there is some room to believe that 450 million is an excessive number of rounds. Factor in ammunition requirements for the various tactical teams and specialized units then you come pretty close to validating the requirement.
Then there is the Social Security Administration buying 174,000 thousands rounds for it's approximately 300 enforcement agents with arrest powers. That around 580 rounds per agent, hardly an excessive amount in my opinion. Another angle is why does the Social Security Administration need armed agents and why are they carrying hollow point ammunition, banned by the Geneva Convention and the Land Of Warfare? Social Security agents also investigates crimes. Well, hollowpoint ammunition is easily justified and has been in current use by law enforcemnt agents for the past,..what? 30 years or so? Hollow point ammunition is actualy safer, providing you hit what you mean to as it has a less chance of over penetrsation and posing a danger outside of the intended target.
174,000 rounds for 300 agents is pretty minimal for training and duty carry equating to 580 rounds per man per year. That would roughly be used as 240 rounds for qualifications; 45 rounds or so for duty carry; and, 290 for training.
While as American Citizens we have a duty to remain vigilant against government encroachment of their powers and the subsequent reduction of our freedoms,....the ammunition purchases circulating around the web are not something we need to be overly concerned about.
I am more concerned the planned hiring of, what?, 16,000 additional IRS agents. I am more concenred about the price and availability of food.....the probability of food shortages and masses of dis-advantaged people rioting in the streets over hyper-inflation and the collapse of the dollar. I am more concenred about my own survival stocks and that includes ammunition for my family's own security. So should you.
You may want to double check your numbers. The total for DHS over 5 years is 1.2 Billion, yes Billion, rounds. As of September 18th, a series of solicitations posted on the FedBizOpps website show that the DHS is looking to purchase 200 million rounds of .223 rifle ammunition over the next four years, as well as 176,000 rounds of .308 caliber 168 grain hollow point boat tail (HPBT) rounds in addition to 25,000 rounds of blank .308 caliber bullets.
ReplyDeleteThe DHS’ decision back in March to purchase of 450 million rounds of .40-caliber hollow point bullets has prompted questions as to why the federal agency required such powerful bullets and in such large quantities merely for training purposes, as they implicitly stated in a press release.
This was followed up by a more recent order (September 18, 2012) for a further 750 million rounds of assorted ammunition, including bullets that can penetrate walls.
Perhaps most troubling should be the recently leaked US Army Military Police training manual for “Civil Disturbance Operations” which outlines how military assets are to be used domestically to quell riots, confiscate firearms and even kill Americans on U.S. soil during mass civil unrest.
On page 20 of the manual, rules regarding the use of “deadly force” in confronting “dissidents” are made disturbingly clear with the directive that a, “Warning shots will not be fired.”
The manual includes lists of weapons to be used against “rioters” or “demonstrators,” including “antiriot grenades.” It also advises troops to carry their guns in the “safe port arms” stance, a psychological tactic aimed at “making a show of force before rioters.” Non-lethal weapons and water cannons are also included.
So yeah, I am concerned. You should be as well.
Finally, a sane voice in the wilderness..As you stated, there are far too many other really important things to dwell upon and take care of...Who really cares if "they," are buy up some ammo...good call...PSYOP
ReplyDeleteYou are rationalizing. The simple fact is that suddenly there is an unprecedented dramatic increase in ammo purchases. Why? If your rationalization were true then there would not have been an increase because there were would have been similar purchases every year in the past. But there isn't. Suddenly now there is a massive increase and this does not bother you?
ReplyDeleteBlindly, like sheep, we go to slaughter. When will the "justifications" and "explanations" not make sense anymore???? When its too late??
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