Over the past year, GerardDirect has called our readers’ attention to the purchase of huge amounts of ammunition by the DHS for a broad array of agencies including Social Security and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Not only ammunition, but weapons in frightening numbers, and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs) for use domestically (i.e. not in foreign conflicts).
According to a recent article in BusinessInsider.com, the vehicles have been modified for use with the DHS Special Response Team — specially trained, fully armored agents dispatched during the most severe and high risk situations, according to WOAI. . . . . In a , a DHS supervisor gives a tour of the vehicle in El Paso, Texas — displaying added skids for agents to ride along the sides, seating for 10-11, firing ports, and enhanced protection from bullets. “[The glass] has multiple layers in there, and it will stop up to a .50 caliber round,” Robert Whittaker, tactical supervisor for El Paso SRT, says in the video. ” … so it provides very good protection for us.”
Never enough ammunition A Denver Post article last month reported that DHS plans to buy an additional 1.6 rounds of ammunition in the coming four or five years. This comes after an estimated Then as now, our question was – what for? Forbes Magazine has now taken up the story, which takes the issue to a very high level indeed. Author Ralph Benko says, quite correctly, that it is time for a public discourse on why the federal government feels it is timely or appropriate to so arm itself with equipment and firepower when the only possible use for it, considering the agencies for which it is earmarked, would be used against the American people. And if that were not bad enough, this huge purchase of ammunition has depleted the stores of the military and law enforcement so that our soldiers and police officers are now struggling to do their jobs without sufficient ammunition.
Last August, we posted a commentary in which we asked why the DHS needs to order 200 million hollow points over a five year period. At that time the numbers were shocking. But not long afterward, we heard that the number was actually 1.2 billion rounds, and now the number have effectively doubled.
It is interesting to note that during the Iraq war, our military forces used only about 70 million rounds year. What in the world is the administration planning to do with nearly 3 billion rounds? They say the ammo is for training, and that they use 15 million rounds a year for that. But that 15 million number is dwarfed by the actual numbers being purchased. The story get even more bizarre when we find that the agencies for whom the large numbers of rounds are being ordered include Social Security and NOAA, two agencies without law enforcement duties.
Given the past demands of our armed forces, the ammunition would satisfy a twenty-year war. Moreover, the bulk of the ammunition already purchased is comprised of hollow-point rounds, which are more expensive and rarely used in training. The answer is disturbingly clear. The combined purchase of weapons, ammunition, and MRAPs for domestic use can only mean that they are planning to use them on American citizens within the US. How is that possible and where is the outrage?
The article below is an important one, one that every American should read.
———- Ilana Freedman, Editor
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1.6 Billion Rounds Of Ammo For Homeland Security? It’s Time For A National Conversation
The Denver Post, on February 15th, ran an Associated Press article entitled Homeland Security aims to buy 1.6b rounds of ammo, so far to little notice. It confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security has issued an open purchase order for 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition. As reported elsewhere, some of this purchase order is for hollow-point rounds, forbidden by international law for use in war, along with a frightening amount specialized for snipers. Also reported elsewhere, at the height of the Iraq War the Army was expending less than 6 million rounds a month. Therefore 1.6 billion rounds would be enough to sustain a hot war for 20+ years. In America.
Add to this perplexing outré purchase of ammo, DHS now is showing off its acquisition of heavily armored personnel carriers, repatriated from the Iraqi and Afghani theaters of operation. As observed by “paramilblogger” Ken Jorgustin last September:
[T]he Department of Homeland Security is apparently taking delivery (apparently through the Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico VA, via the manufacturer – Navistar Defense LLC) of an undetermined number of the recently retrofitted 2,717 ‘Mine Resistant Protected’ MaxxPro MRAP vehicles for service on the streets of the United States.”
These MRAP’s ARE BEING SEEN ON U.S. STREETS all across America by verified observers with photos, videos, and descriptions.”
Regardless of the exact number of MRAP’s being delivered to DHS (and evidently some to POLICE via DHS, as has been observed), why would they need such over-the-top vehicles on U.S. streets to withstand IEDs, mine blasts, and 50 caliber hits to bullet-proof glass? In a war zone… yes, definitely. Let’s protect our men and women. On the streets of America… ?”
“They all have gun ports… Gun Ports? In the theater of war, yes. On the streets of America…?
Seriously, why would DHS need such a vehicle on our streets?”
Why indeed? It is utterly inconceivable that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is planning a coup d’etat against President Obama, and the Congress, to install herself as Supreme Ruler of the United States of America. There, however, are real signs that the Department bureaucrats are running amok. About 20 years ago this columnist worked, for two years, in the U.S. Department of Energy’s general counsel’s office in its procurement and finance division. And is wise to the ways. The answer to “why would DHS need such a vehicle?” almost certainly is this: it’s a cool toy and these (reportedly) million dollar toys are being recycled, without much of a impact on the DHS budget. So… why not?
Why, indeed, should the federal government not be deploying armored personnel carriers and stockpiling enough ammo for a 20-year war in the homeland? Because it’s wrong in every way. President Obama has an opportunity, now, to live up to some of his rhetoric by helping the federal government set a noble example in a matter very close to his heart (and that of his Progressive base), one not inimical to the Bill of Rights: gun control. The federal government can (for a nice change) begin practicing what it preaches by controlling itself.
Remember the Sequester? The president is claiming its budget cuts will inconvenience travelers by squeezing essential services provided by the (opulently armed and stylishly uniformed) DHS. Quality ammunition is not cheap. (Of course, news reports that DHS is about to spend $50 million on new uniforms suggests a certain cavalier attitude toward government frugality.)
Spending money this way is beyond absurd well into perverse. According to the AP story a DHS spokesperson justifies this acquisition to “help the government get a low price for a big purchase.” Peggy Dixon, spokeswoman for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center: “The training center and others like it run by the Homeland Security Department use as many as 15 million rounds every year, mostly on shooting ranges and in training exercises.”
At 15 million rounds (which, in itself, is pretty extraordinary and sounds more like fun target-shooting-at-taxpayer-expense than a sensible training exercise) … that’s a stockpile that would last DHS over a century. To claim that it’s to “get a low price” for a ridiculously wasteful amount is an argument that could only fool a career civil servant.
Meanwhile, Senator Diane Feinstein, with the support of President Obama, is attempting to ban 100 capacity magazine clips. Doing a little apples-to-oranges comparison, here, 1.6 billion rounds is … 16 million times more objectionable. . . .
Read the entire article here.
Ilana:
At best this is a terrible waste of money. I hate to even think of the worse scenario.
Charles Northington
‘The Government’ in place right now is planning to ‘Rule’ American Citizens by force and soon.
By FEMA Prison Camps previously built by other Presidents Administration as well should be obvious ‘Government’ has planned this long ago. Paid for by ‘We The People’.
Is it too late to change? Probably. Will it happen without a fight? Only about 1% of our Citizens will Fight as always except WWII. Unless strangely the very ones Govt. did not count on to fight will fight.Hispanics that tasted freedom. Mothers and Daddy’s protecting little Johnny not wanting him to serve Defending the Nation and little Suzzie College liberal will not have to stomach to fight.Blacks will run there mouth as usual but have been taught this is not their Country will not fight as a whole. Isolated Veterans may but too old. No National Leadership if Congress is Liberal and no backbone to save ‘Old Glory’ but rather be lead down the road.
So I don’t think DHS needs all they put together for the ‘Take Over’. And I am sad to say this.If I am wrong, who ya gonna call?