Social Security stockpiling ammo?

[ffemt300]

Anyone see this?

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It didn't take long for the Internet to start buzzing with conspiracy theories after the Social Security Administration posted a notice that it was purchasing 174,000 hollow-point bullets.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/ ... 4-03-35-55" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[baldeagle]

Anyone see this?

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It didn't take long for the Internet to start buzzing with conspiracy theories after the Social Security Administration posted a notice that it was purchasing 174,000 hollow-point bullets.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/ ... 4-03-35-55" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've blogged about it twice. It's no big deal. SSA has 295 agents, so their 174,000 rounds works out to less than 600 per agent. I'll shoot that much in two or three IDPA matches. Yes, they're hollow points, but the agents don't care. You're paying for them. Besides, the government can probably buy hollow points for less than we pay for FMJ.

DHS recently ordered over 700,000 rounds, and people were getting the vapors all over the place. Some of the hyperbole was so laughable it hurt. They talked about "powerful" hollow points, like somehow the bullet itself has mystical powers. One article I read actually said "enough bullets for every man, woman and child in America.

If they knew how many we have they'd die from apoplexy.

[powerboatr]

I never knew a SSA agent was armed. It just never clicked until I read about raids....but i thought the FBI did all of that
pretty weird

[daniel2002p]

Honestly I go through 300-400 per range visit. 600 or so per agent per year does not sound like a lot IMO.

[baldeagle]

I never knew a SSA agent was armed. It just never clicked until I read about raids....but i thought the FBI did all of that
pretty weird

That's an entirely different argument. Do we really need armed SSA agents? Can't they just enlist the aid of LEOs when needed?

But if we're going to have armed agents, we at least ought to buy them enough ammo so they become proficient with their weapons. The last thing we need is to duplicate the performance of NYPD across the nation.

[carlson1]

Honestly I go through 300-400 per range visit. 600 or so per agent per year does not sound like a lot IMO.

I promise you they are not practicing that much. The average police will only shoot 200-300 a year if they have to and it is probably closer to 200.

[daniel2002p]

Range visit last Saturday I shot two of the 100 bulk boxes of WWB ammo from Wal Mart, two 50rd boxes of Monarch from Academy, and and a 50rd box of some no name I picked up from Academy for $9.99 on sale a while back.

Now I am not saying I go through it every visit but usually when I go to the range there is some good amount of lead flying. I am a new shooter and I use the excuse that I am practicing :)

--Daniel

[Dave2]

I never knew a SSA agent was armed. It just never clicked until I read about raids....but i thought the FBI did all of that
pretty weird

That's an entirely different argument. Do we really need armed SSA agents? Can't they just enlist the aid of LEOs when needed?

No, we don't; and yes, they can.

But if we're going to have armed agents, we at least ought to buy them enough ammo so they become proficient with their weapons. The last thing we need is to duplicate the performance of NYPD across the nation.

[ffemt300]

I never knew a SSA agent was armed. It just never clicked until I read about raids....but i thought the FBI did all of that
pretty weird

I was unaware that they were armed as well. You learn something new everyday. Thanks for the info!

[ghostrider]

I was unaware that they were armed as well. You learn something new everyday.

yes; it seems just about every gov't dept has armed agents. I'm still surprised (somewhat) that the DOE OIG has armed staff:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blo ... _blog.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer ... hotgu.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and the FDA? Is that to take down heavily fortified grocery stores selling contraband tomatos?
http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/CriminalInvest ... efault.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[apostate]

and the FDA? Is that to take down heavily fortified grocery stores selling contraband tomatos?

They need to fight the epidemic of drive-by fruitings (to misquote Mrs. Doubtfire.)

[baldeagle]

I was unaware that they were armed as well. You learn something new everyday.

yes; it seems just about every gov't dept has armed agents. I'm still surprised (somewhat) that the DOE OIG has armed staff:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blo ... _blog.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer ... hotgu.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and the FDA? Is that to take down heavily fortified grocery stores selling contraband tomatos?
http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/CriminalInvest ... efault.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

These are the guys you have to worry about. LEO's are trained to be disciplined and know that when they use their firearm they will be scrutinized. These guys probably don't train much, aren't as familiar with weapons and are much more likely to panic and shoot. Or draw with their finger on the trigger.

[recaffeination]

If obamacare has death panels to cut costs, maybe socialist security will have death squads.

[JJVP]

Looks like the SS stockpiling ammo was just the tip of the iceberg.

http://www.infowars.com/dhs-purchases-2 ... mmunition/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Heartland Patriot]

Others can justify this to themselves any way they want. I can understand Social Security agents, being Federal agents, needing handgun ammunition, to train with...I can even understand some of them having M4-style carbines, and needing to practice with those, too...but is anyone seriously going to tell me that the SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION has agents that NEED rifles chambered in .308, which are generally considered to be "sniper rifles"? What is the purpose behind this? What sort of work are they doing that they would need this? Do they really run into that many situations that require dropping someone with a .308? Because that is not a "shoot to stop" caliber; that is for "shoot to KILL". I'm sorry, but if they get into a situation that is that far out of control, they could call on local law enforcement SWAT, or state police resources, or even the FBI. One way or another, I have a problem with this business.