FCC watchdog tells Congress to arm some of its investigators

Washington Examiner ^ | 1/19/15 | Sarah Westwood

[Nachum]

Federal Communications Commission watchdogs may one day carry guns thanks to a request to Congress by the agency’s inspector general that his office be allowed to hire armed criminal investigators. David Hunt, the FCC IG, argued before the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the oversight of communications programs requires his team to investigate violations in potentially dangerous settings, thereby justifying the need to arm selected investigators. Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation officials aid the FCC watchdog in criminal cases at present, but Hunt pointed to difficulties in securing support from the FBI in cases worth less than $1 million. Hunt

[Lurker]

Ummmm, no.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

It’s to protect the mezzuins

[gaijin]

[Noumenon]

Most amateur radio operators haven’t given a thought to the possibility that their hobby and all of their precious gear may be outlawed by this regime or one similar to it.

It’s not as if there’s no precedent.

Got comms? I do. KG7PCC clear.

[sten]

radio and tv must be more edgy then when i was growing up

[cpdiii]

If the Republican congress signs off on this bureaucratic power-grab then we, as patriots, will know that the republic created by Founders is lost and that the Tree of Liberty will have to be watered with blood.

Sadly sir, you are correct.

[cpdiii]

David Hunt, the FCC IG, argued before the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the oversight of communications programs requires his team to investigate violations in potentially dangerous settings, thereby justifying the need to arm selected investigators.

In that rare instance that I have never heard of, there is a procedure that could be used. Call up the local cop shop and ask them for an officer to accompany you.

[Hawthorn]

>>For what?

>> HAM radio operators? <<

Very rarely for licensed hams. But drug dealers sometimes use ham frequencies “on the sly.”

>> CB operators? <<

Occasionally, as when deliberate jamming or law violations (prostitution, drug trafficking, etc.) are involved.

>> Someone with a noisy transmitter of one flavor or other? <<

Yes, for example, operators of pirate FM stations in dangerous ghetto neighborhoods.

[RandallFlagg]

I wonder how many government agencies have their people walking around with firearms, and I wonder how many of those people use their own (not taxpayer funded) firearms, and went through the background check...

Okay. Who’s laughing out there?!

[trebb]

What next, Children & Family case workers packing heat?

Why not? With all the strong-arm tactics they use to separate children for decent parents, it's only a matter of time before some who are tyrannized decide to make a statement.

[unixfox]

Yeah, because computer nerds and tech weenies have such a long history of physical violence... {snort}

The nerds and weenies can unleash hell without weapons. But if you corner one of them...good luck.