DHS Explains Plans To Buy 1.6B Rounds Of Ammo: We're Buying in Bulk to 'Significantly Lower Costs'

cnsnews.com ^ | 4-2-2013 | Gregory Gwyn-Williams

[plain talk]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has responded to a letter dated November 13, 2012 from Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) regarding the agency's ammunition purchases. Sen. Coburn published the response on the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs website yesterday, April 1, 2013.

The response, dated February 4, 2013, says that DHS buys ammunition in bulk to "significantly lower costs."

[Marine Inspector]

Why’d they need hollow point bullets?

Because we practice with hollow points.

[Cheerio]

No one explains how they are getting around the bonafide needs rule. I want to see the appropriations citation they are using to make these purchases. O&M money is very specific to a certain fiscal year's appropriations - there is no way in God's Creation Big Sis can explain a BONAFIDE NEED for 1.6 BILLION rounds of AMMO in GFY 2013!!!!!!!!

[qaz123]

Federal Law Enforcement trains with HP’s.

I know its dumb. I know its more costly. I know that PD’s use FMJ. I know that the military doesn’t use HP’s. The military is not allowed to under the Geneva Convention.

But, some omniscient individual, a long time ago, decided that in order for a Fed to get used to the feeling of firing HP’s on duty, they should practice with the same ammo as their duty ammo.

I think one of the better questions would be to the manufacturers themselves. Ask them how the deal is being done. Ask them what they’re capable of producing? How much they have delivered? And how much do they plan to deliver?

If the numbers don’t jibe with what Big Sis is saying, then something ain’t kosher. Easily investigated.

[qaz123]

It isn’t the cost. With the Feds, as I’m sure you know, cost means nothing.

The desire to train with HP’s is pretty standard w/ the Feds. They’re better than us common folk, you know.(sarc)

This is about hoarding it all, so we can’t get any. Pure and simple.

[RedHeeler]

Where’s the rebate on cost to the US Citizen? Oh, yeah, by getting shot. Got it.

[wastedyears]

This really... can’t... be real...

I don’t want to live on this planet anymore.

[RedHeeler]

bye.

[Jack Hammer]

The DHS hires the lowest of the low - ex-cons and illitarates unfit for anything else. They’ll fire on anything if there’s a paycheck in it for them.

[Rich21IE]

Lying sacks-O-crap; they’re buying in advance of the signing of the UN Small Arms treaty.

[Vaquero]

The regime Preparing for CW 2 and/or an unlimited 3rd term And letting those who would secede know that they are prepared.

Bass Turds.

[MrB]

It’s an arms race between the people and the government.
This is not a society preparing for a shortage or restriction on arms and ammo,
this is a society preparing for war.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Even if this were true, which it obviously is not, this explains why most firearm enthusiasts keep so much ammo on hand...it is cheaper to buy in bulk.

Yet whenever an “arsenal” is seized, they always harp on “thousands of rounds of ammunition, as if that means the owner was planning on launching a war.

So my question is, why does DHS need this “arsenal” within reach?

[xzins]

In response to how the ammunition will be used by DHS, the various component agencies answered specific to their usage:
• • CBP (Customs & Border Protection) said that "70 percent of CBP ammunition is used for quarterly qualifications."
• • ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) says it "allocates 1,000 rounds of ammunition per firearm per year for quarterly qualifications and training."
• • TSA (Transportation Security Administration) says "35 percent of TSA ammunition is allocated for operational use (qualifications and duty carry)."

I think DHS is playing fast and loose with the truth. Here's why:

In my many years in the military, 6 of which was enlisted, I either had to qualify with my weapon or watched in various units as those soldiers had to qualify.

Qualifications generally were annual, but there were times when we were at the range one additional time. Except in basic training, those events required a total of 25 or so practice rounds and about 25 rounds for record. That's a total of 50 rounds. If we grant 2 qualifications a year, that's 100 rounds a year per active duty soldier.

Those in an infantry unit would fire more, but surprisingly, not that much more. Live rounds are generally used only on rifle qualification ranges even for the infantry. Live fire exercises are rare and few rounds are issued and expended.

Also, don't forget that simulator rifles also are available in our day, and they fire simulator rounds.

So, in a 550,000 man Army, the army will expend in the neighborhood of 55 million small arms rounds this year. Making allowances for war and infantry, let's up that to 65 million this year.

They expect me to believe that an agency of 200,000 with at most 100000 shooters, is going to use up their inventory of 260 million + a purchase of 110 million?

That's 3600 rounds this year per shooter???

And our Army will use in the neighborhood of 100 rounds per shooter?

I spoke to a Navy buddy, and he said their qualification each year was 10 rounds with a .45 into the ocean off the deck of a ship.

[NoGrayZone]

"The response, dated February 4, 2013, says that DHS buys ammunition in bulk to "significantly lower costs."

Great job!

[Travis McGee]

[Oberon]

I’ve got no beef with ammo manufacturers. But I have to wonder if the “bulk price” sales to the feds are worth leaving their retail markets AND their longtime customers high and dry.

Part of the federal licensing requirements for munitions factories is that federal contracts take first priority in order fulfillment.

[varmintman]

The response, dated February 4, 2013, says that DHS buys ammunition in bulk to "significantly lower costs."

Translation into plain English: "**** you..."

[seeker41]

DEFUND
the
DHS!

[seeker41]

Congress and the Senate are useless POS(s)...