Who Does The Government Intend To Shoot?

I just don't think we know enough to conclude anything yet.

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/large+government+ammo+purchase

Read the above carefully. Here's how I figure there is nothing to be alarmed about. ATK was awarded a contract by DHS for (up to a maximum) of 450M rounds of .40 caliber ammunition "over 5 years". That's roughly 90M rounds/yr. If your figure of 30% of DHS are "carrying", then 30% of 208,000 staff is 62,400 that are carrying. That means 1,442 rounds/yr per person, or about 120 rounds per month.

Is this excessive? How much ammo do staff carry on a day-to-day basis; how much is required for training programs; and how much is expended in ongoing skills practice sessions?

I don't know enough to say anything. But this quick "back of the envelope" scribbling suggests to me that it doesn't seem like anything to worry about (regarding DHS).

The Department of Defense uses about 70 million rounds per year (in all calibers) for the hot wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So the Department of Homeland Security is going to use 90 million rounds per year of just one caliber (.40) “for training purposes”? This does not really pass the smell test.

And they have other large purchases in the works for .223 rifle ammunition, .357 pistol ammunition and .50 caliber machine gun ammunition, and... [urp! .50 cal. What ????]. Total pending buys are estimated at 1.4 billion rounds of mixed caliber munitions from multiple vendors. Deliveries are not necessarily spread over a five year period either.

For example, the USFS wants 170,000 rounds of mixed ammunition for urgent delivery - in September. Other agency solicitations call for delivery in October.

None of this information is secret. It is openly published on government web sites. It is just tedious to find. Check out this little gem:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=3768c8b1540796310de2137c36df6ada&tab=core&_cview=1

Bear in mind that 1 "unit" is a standard case of 1000 rounds.

I wonder what the significance of those required delivery dates might be?

Say, Isn't there some special event scheduled for November 2012?

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