Lawmakers compare DHS ammo reserve with U.S. Army


by Conservative Action Alerts on May 1, 2013

“This is not about conspiracy theories, this is about good government.” – Rep. Jim Jordan
ALERT: House members probe DHS on staggering ammunition purchases, number of rounds in possession. Take Action and Demand Congress to DEFUND and DISMANTLE the police state!
Conservative American,

Our demands are being heard – more lawmakers are coming to our side and holding the Department of Homeland Security accountable.

The House Committee of Oversight and Government Reform last Thursday examined the DHS’ stockpiling of ammunition and revealed some very disturbing information.

Opening the meeting, Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz made it a point to specifically clarify that “we [the Committee] are not talking about the Department of Defense [and] we are not talking about the Department of Justice” knowing full well that the figures he would release would stand as a shock to many.

Rather than paraphrase, here is Rep. Chaffetz’ report as he delivered it:

“As we have seen, Homeland Security currently has in inventory more than 260 million rounds of ammunition … they have about 70,000 agents who actually carry and use and train with weapons.

“In fiscal year 2012, the Department of Homeland Security used approximately 116 million rounds of ammunition. In comparison, the United States Army purchased about 391 million rounds of small arms ammunition in fiscal year 2012 for an end-strength of active duty and reserve components of about 1.1 million people. This means that the Army allocated about 347 rounds of small arms ammunition per soldier in fiscal year 2012. Based on Homeland Security’s allocation of 1,300 to 1,600 rounds per officer, in comparison, Homeland Security officers used roughly a thousand rounds more per person, or, per officer, than the average Army officer.”
While the Department of Homeland Security’s Nick Nayak didn’t dispute Chaffetz’ statistics, he did say – as the DHS always does – that the Department purchases these rounds for training purposes.

The fact that the U.S. Army – the original Constitutional body for our nation’s defense – uses approximately a thousand rounds less per capita than the DHS is absolutely astounding and goes to show that the DHS’ purchases are completely unacceptable.

Lawmakers must begin to dismantle the ever-growing, unaccountable police state. Not only is it expensive, it poses a threat to our liberty.

While some Democrat members decried Republican committee members like Chairman Chaffetz and Rep. Jim Jordan as being “conspiracy theorists,” we know that these individuals are asking the right questions.
Why does the Department of Homeland Security need more ammunition per capita than the United States Army simply for “training” purposes? What on earth is the Department of Homeland Security planning?

In March, over a dozen House members called on Janet Napolitano to answer for the Department of Homeland Security’s recent mass-purchases of ammunition, guns, and heavily armored vehicles.

In a letter to the DHS Secretary co-signed by thirteen House members, Rep. Doug LaMalfa writes:

“Aside from being hard to justify, the timing of these purchases is of great interest as well since, as we all know, the Obama Administration is proposing legislation to further restrict access to firearms and ammunition. The extraordinary level of ammunition purchases made by Homeland Security seems to have, in states such as my own, created an extreme shortage of ammunition to the point where many gun owners are unable to purchase any.

Additionally, the Department has spent, or is asking to spend, significant amounts of money on nearly two billion rounds of ammunition when across-the-board spending cuts are scheduled to go into effect under the President’s sequester plan. According to your recent public statements, these cuts make our nation more vulnerable to a terrorist attack, yet the Department is still spending money on millions of bullets in addition to the billion and a half that have already been sought.”
The California Representative is correct in assuming that the DHS is helping the Congressional gun-grabbers who have blatantly stated that they aim to “dry up” the supply of privately-owned firearms and ammunition.
This is hypothesis, fits the overall disarm-and-control agenda perfectly. Especially since Reid tabled the Senate gun-control bill recently.

So the question is this: did the Secretary respond to the House members’ call? No. Napolitano hasn’t said a single word.

(Note: Homeland Security spokesperson Peter Boogaard’s reiteration of the DHS’ often-used “official” answer – saying that the purchases are for “training purposes” – offers nothing new, and does not stand as a substitute for the Secretary’s answer, which is exactly what the House members are calling for. See Boogaard’s response at US News. Plus, let’s ask this question: If the U.S. military doesn’t even train with hollow-point rounds, why would the DHS?)

What’s more, as the DHS evades questions on their current ammo supply, they are at the same time in the midst of stocking-up even more ammunition!

We aren’t kidding. On March 21st Homeland Security solicited an additional 360,000 rounds of ammunition!
Whether, as Rep. LaMalfa believes, the DHS is intentionally buying-up ammunition to create a civilian shortage, or if the Department is preparing for some up-and-coming crisis, either way Americans lose.

The Department of Homeland Security – which was born to combat terrorism in the wake of 9/11 – is now a terror itself. This ever-growing monster must be slain and Congress carries the sword!

Fax Congress and Demand that they DEFUND and DISMANTLE Obama’s police state! They mustkill appropriations for all unconstitutional purchases, programs, and executive orders that would deprive Americans of their God-given liberty! Select Here and Take Action!

Speaking at a Tea Party Rally in Whippany, New Jersey, Representative Leonard Lance said he is “concerned” about the DHS’ stockpiling of ammo and heavily-armored vehicles for domestic use.

The New Jersey Rep. state he “would like a full explanation” from DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. He said, “Congress has a responsibility to ask Secretary Napolitano as to exactly why these purchases have occurred.”

Rep. Lance concluded his statement on the DHS, saying: “I think we need to make sure we continue to live in a country based on freedom – a country based on individual rights – and I hope that we in Congress get the answers to these questions.”

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