Why does Homeland Security need 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition?

American Thinker ^ | September 19, 2012 | Lee DeCovnick

[Travis McGee]

The Department of Homeland Security has purchased 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition- that is not a typo -- during the last six months. This includes 450 million rounds of .40 hollow point, 200 million rounds of .223 rifle ammunition, and 176,000 rounds of .308 168-grain hollow point boat tail (HPBT) that is used almost exclusively as ammo for sniper rifles.

From beforeitsnews.com we read:

Why is everyone all up in arms about the recent purchase by Homeland security of 1.4 Billion rounds of ammunition?

Our undeclared Foreign War in Iraq Consumes about 70,000,000 (70 Million) Rounds of Ammunition Each Year, which would take about 20 years to consume 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition ordered by the Department of Homeland Security alone, not including all the ammunition ordered by the weather service, Social Security, etc! 20 Years To Use All 1.4 Billion Rounds Of This Ammo?

Is the Department of Homeland security to protect us from foreign terrorists, or to protect the central government from the American people?

Read the entire chilling article. Avoid any political discussions about Obama's infamous 2008 quote, lest your blood pressure dangerously rise.

"We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/09/why_does_homeland_security_need_14_billion_rounds_of_ammunition.html#ixzz270lpFOk8

[wastoute]

I guess it is only fair. We are stocking up, too...

[circlecity]

Any chance they are trying to keep ammo out of private hands by purchasing everything on the market? Or is production capacity too high for that to work?

[Travis McGee]

CW2 Ping

“What I saw at the coup”

Some of the hate radio hosts began to fan the flames with crazy rumors that really weren't so crazy, not to us. When they were taken off the air through a variety of means (but mainly for violating the "fomenting domestic terrorism" laws), the right wing nut jobs went absolutely mad with fury. The accusations about a secret purge continued. The plan was being laid out for all to see, even while it was being officially denied at every level, and was never reported on at all by our cooperating media networks and other friendly outlets.

And then the shooting started.

At a month and a half or so, it sometimes seemed that the plan was in danger of falling apart. I asked Dennis about it in private, but he appeared unworried. "It's all part of the action-reaction calculus. It was all taken into account. We needed them to react. We're in the second phase. We smoked them out into the open with phase one, and now we can go get them. Why do you think we bought billions of bullets for the DHS? Why do you think we paid for SWAT teams and armored cars in every Podunk town in America? We've been getting ready for this moment for years."

[Rich21IE]

They have “met the enemy” and the enemy is us.

[MichiganCheese]

To shoot half of the country (his enemies) 9 times each?

[Travis McGee]

“Keeping ammo out of the hands of civilians” might be a small part of the equation, but not the full picture. We civilians already own billions and billions of rounds of stockpiled ammo.

No, the DHS thinks that they will have a reason to USE those billions of bullets.

Against whom? A handful of Major Hassans? Don’t make me laugh. This is what it’s about:

“We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.”
~~Obama

[sport]

To shoot us with.

[smokingfrog]

They want to buy it up before we do, and it also drives up the price to make everything less affordable.

[cripplecreek]

I personally suspect its mostly going elsewhere. They don’t have the personnel who are trained or even capable of using it.

[maxwellsmart_agent]

I consider what you say to make more sense than anything I have heard. 1.4 billion rounds? That is too much ammo for the guns they now have, even if they practice a couple of times a week. Watch the clown in the White House closely. He has shown tendencies already. He could try to do more.

[ZX12R]

Why does Homeland Security need 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition?

"About 78.2 million dogs are owned in the United States. (Source: APPA)"

[sport]

My answers to the questions asked

Why is everyone all up in arms about the recent purchase by Homeland security of 1.4 Billion rounds of ammunition?

Because from watching the direction they are headed and after observing their actions, we no trust the Government.

Is the Department of Homeland security to protect us from foreign terrorists, or to protect the central government from the American people?

According to the Head of HS, we, particularily veterans, Christians, and legitmate gun owners are the terrorists.

[DTogo]

Why does Homeland Security need 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition?

To unknowingly become field supply points to Patriot forces in the coming R2/CW2.

[rktman]

Well, one thing we now know. Who has plenty of ammo to pilfer if needed. How secure do you think that is? Did they stock up on the next most important item? Toilet paper! And, you are most correct about watching the clown-mander in chief. R&R better be ready for the debates cause these two (obie and biden-my time or their minions) will surely be digging deep to throw them off track and catch them off guard on something.

[sneakers]

ok, what the heck is this all about? I’ve been hearing about this.

[no-to-illegals]

FRiend there army is not filled with experts? Lots of misses?

[Vaquero]

as an optimist, I hope this will mean that when the scum is out of office, it will be sold to us as surplus for a good price.

[no-to-illegals]

my bad ... there should be their

[mo]

There just isn’t any good answer to this I’m afraid.
The only alternative is for Congress to yank their funding.

[varon]

Is the Department of Homeland security to protect us from foreign terrorists, or to protect the central government from the American people?

Foreign terrorists are Boy Scouts compared to Obama's occupation forces!!!

Department of Homeland Security should be renamed Obama's Department of Security.

Who will come to help liberate us???

[Eye of Unk]

I think its all propaganda to intimidate America. Of course they really may have just done what they say but they are sending a message of eventuality, that WE the FEDERAL agencies are more powerful.

Its all about dominance, the solution is to just shine it on, because they may have billions of rounds the other side has several hundred million shooters.

Which is the bigger threat? A billion or so rounds of ammo with a hundred thousand or so shooting or the hundred million or so who already have the guns and ammo?

So I say big whoopsy do, Americans STILL have more ammo, and are buying more every single day.

[chainsaw]

I guess it’s so we can control the traitorous liberals after we, the citizens, take back our country.

[timestax]

[ctdonath2]

Maybe it's like the old WWII line "shoot twice and go home". At 4 rounds per person, there's nothing to worry about. Well, for them to worry about...

[Graewoulf]

Lemme see now - - - - , first Obama down-sizes the US Military, then he beefs up the ammo for the Federal non-Military - - - hmmmmmm ?

Guess Obama is getting ready to grow the 47 % into 51 %, with or without the help of the US Military.

[bmwcyle]

I did start collecting before they did.

[Java4Jay]

Maybe cause they’re hedging bets on precious metals. I’m sure they have our best interest at heart.

[cripplecreek]

I think its all propaganda to intimidate America.

That and sending it elsewhere. After all I'm not hearing about them buying guns to go with the ammo and the vast majority of federal employees aren't trained or even capable of using weapons.

[PLMerite]

“Why does Homeland Security need 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition?”

There’s a storm coming.

[P.O.E.]

They probably only need 53% of that. The other 47% are already voting for redistribution.

[OB1kNOb]

Why does Homeland Security need 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition?

"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set.

We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded." - Barack HUSSEIN Obama at campaign rally in Colorado Springs, CO on July 2, 2008

Source: Obama’s ‘National Security Force? - FactCheck.org’

I find it very odd that factcheck.org says that these "security" related statements made in Obama's campaign speech where he talked specifically about expanding AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps and the USA Freedom Corps should be taken in the context of what those organizations do, however, when I read the speech that they published in their link below, I find these "security" statements, while in the middle of his speech talking about expanding AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, have nothing to do with the objective of these organizations. (Am I wrong?)

These two statements read like a subliminal message embedded in the middle of an innocent subject (like the old SNL Mr. Subliminal (slut)skit). No where before or after these two sentences does Obama's speech ever make a statement that links "security" needs to the Peace Corps and the USA Freedom Corps.

Someone tell me if I have my tinfoil hat screwed on too tight. Seriously, I'm open to different interpretations/opinions.

[Wurlitzer]

Not that we have a snowball’s chance in hell of a truthful answer but has the question of these purchases ever been raised during the daily WH press briefings?

Seems like a simple question; “Why are so many departments like SS, EPA, even NOAA..... buying large quantities of ammunition?”

I know for a fact earlier this year the EPA was looking to hire 200+ people but they had to have a pistol permit.

IMO this is Obama, attempting to have a domestic police force equal in strength to our military. Why do I believe this? Because in his own words he told us that is what he wanted. No amount of spin can hide the fact that is what he said. He simply did not define how he was going to accomplish it but now we know.

[CodeToad]

“To unknowingly become field supply points to Patriot forces in the coming R2/CW2. “

That’s been tapped danced around this entire time, thanks for getting direct about it. haha

[CodeToad]

“Any chance they are trying to keep ammo out of private hands by purchasing everything on the market? Or is production capacity too high for that to work?”

Possibly. Manufacturing cannot meet that demand.

[Charles Martel]

Any chance they are trying to keep ammo out of private hands by purchasing everything on the market? Or is production capacity too high for that to work?

A few years ago, 5.56 NATO ammo was getting tough to find because of the ramped-up military demand. Thus, these procurements are spread out over a 12-month base term contract, plus four 12-month option periods. So the first year's purchase is one-fifth of the total being discussed. Monthly deliveries, in the case of one of the DHS .40 caliber pistol ammo purchases, begins in June of 2013. That may be a bit late for Obama's private army to make use of it (I guess we'll see in November).

The four option periods are not yet funded, IIRC. Bottom line - for the coming year, the ammo purchases are just a fraction of the total numbers mentioned. Not that we should drop our guard, or anything... just trying to paint a more complete picture.

[Molon Labbie]

.40 caliber is the most common law enforcement pistol round now.

Not too much of a stretch to see who that ammo is going to be distributed to.

[theBuckwheat]

If a citizen who enjoys shooting finds a 1,000 rounds on sale and buys it, he suddenly has a “arsenal”. Any hint of paranoia is grounds for concern.

The only reason that government would buy 1.4 billion rounds of ammo is those in charge are paranoid against irate citizens. But happily in November, the ballot box has absolute power over their ammo box, if only a sufficient number of citizens would vote and vote to throw these socialists out.

[Charles Martel]

Lynn Westmoreland's explanation.

The federal government just *loves* these IDIQ contracts. I suppose they work great for stuff like high recycled-content photocopy paper, but use them for things like MREs and ammo and the alarm bells begin ringing.

[stevie_d_64]

These government agencies might be buying all this stuff up because they could not hit the ground if they fell, and need the practice???

All kidding aside, I would think this is due to the fact that the elections are coming up and they want to get stocked up BEFORE their expected outcome, to drive down supply, and ramp up the cost (of ammo) to the general public...

Considering the rush after Obama first got into office, I believe this is a calculate snub, of course, using our tax dollars to buy themselves enough ammo, just in case...

Just my opinion...

[Tainan]

Who will come to help liberate us???

"I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"
Then I said, "Here am I; send me!"...Isaiah 6:8


RLTW...an oath not forgotten.

[Molon Labbie]

Again, this guy Westmoreland is throwing it out there that this is training ammunition.

Hollowpoint ammo is NOT training ammunition. It is not needed to punch holes in paper, it is best for punching great jagged holes in people.

[JimRed]

Is the Department of Homeland security to protect us from foreign terrorists, or to protect the central government from the American people?

By George, I think he's got it!

[JimRed]

To unknowingly become field supply points to Patriot forces in the coming R2/CW2.

How do we determine the locations of their armories? Will we have to take out our National Guard neighbors to capture them? Or will bureaucrats be standing security over the facilities?

So many questions!

[timestax]

[Chode]

aside from the obvious, are they trying to create a shortage and or drive up prices???

[Chode]

LOL!!! it could happen...

[Hot Tabasco]

With each story the number keeps going up, now it’s up to 1.4 BILLION............gee, that’s a lot of ammo.

[xone]

Hollowpoint ammo is NOT training ammunition. It is not needed to punch holes in paper, it is best for punching great jagged holes in people.

It may not be training ammo to someone who has to buy their own, but if cost is no object, like a gov't agency training with your duty ammo makes sense.

[Squantos]

BTTT. ...