Add to this perplexing outrรฉ 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."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?
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, 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.
Mr. Obama has a long history of disdain toward gun ownership. According to Prof. John Lott, in Debacle, a book he co-authored with iconic conservative strategist Grover Norquist,
"When I was first introduced to Obama (when both worked at the University of Chicago Law School, where Lott was famous for his analysis of firearms possession), he said, 'Oh, you're the gun guy.'Mr. Obama? Where's the disdain now? Cancelling, or at minimum, drastically scaling back - by 90% or even 99%, the DHS order for ammo, and its receipt and deployment of armored personnel carriers, would be a "fourfer."
I responded: 'Yes, I guess so.'
'I don't believe that people should own guns,' Obama replied.
I then replied that it might be fun to have lunch and talk about that statement some time.
He simply grimaced and turned away. ...
Unlike other liberal academics who usually enjoyed discussing opposing ideas, Obama showed disdain."
- The federal government would set an example of restraint in the matter of weaponry.
- It would reduce the deficit without squeezing essential services.
- It would do both in a way that was palatable to liberals and conservatives, slightly depolarizing America.
- It would somewhat defuse, by the government making itself less armed-to-the-teeth, the anxiety of those who mistrust the benevolence of the federales.
TRUE Practice ammo is the same but less than 1/2 the cost of the FMJ-HP's! (Full Metal Jacket-Hollow Point)
Practice ammo can be easily and quickly manufactured and its aerial ballistics can be custom made to match any HP rounds. (One doesn't care about TERMINAL ballistics - which HP rounds are designed to maximize the impact of - at a practice range.)
What an obvious lie (not to say that such is a rare thing these days...) but to say that it's to save money -such a farce! A full blown "hot war" in America for "20+ months?" Who is going to be shooting back? Why bother? We don't have the access to Ak-47's or RPG's that the Iraqis and Afghanis have had, nor to other military weapons which WE have already showered upon the Iraqis and Israelis and Afghanis, [along with UK, France, USSR and China. ]
The extra expense in HP rounds are likely over 80% related to their projectiles, which are illegal in warfare and which this article is one of the very few to finally take note same. In truth, they're not for use at the rifle range, nor in Iraq, but to KILL AMERICANS WITH.) These projectiles, which expand upon impact with a human or animal's body, into a lethal mushroom shape,and which breaks out into cutting four or six petaled metal shards peeling back away from the round's core. Here's a pic of what they do: [Link] Even worse are "Frangible" rounds, which effectively explode into multiple little metal shards on impact, and which are included in these purchases.
There can be no other logical reason for such purchases except the expectation of an execution campaign against Americans. (Particularly since most of the rounds are .40 S&W and which are pistol rounds, designed to kill up close and personal, "execution style.")
I agree that Obysmal's doing the recommended stoppage of the absurd purchases would go a long way. . . but he's just puppet, like his predecessor. And yet with that intellect goes a lot more moral responsibility, that he has clearly abandoned. (And don't think for a minute that his "bosses" don't make jokes about how he's their "boy." You KNOW they do.)
R.C.