It is of course routine to handcuff people who are being detained. In my opinion, this was excessive and cruel to keep him handcuffed and in a hot vehicle for such a long time.
"He plans to re-introduce language he sponsored in the last session that would repeal the authority given to the OIGs in 2002 and prohibit any federal agency outside “those traditionally tasked with enforcing federal law,” like the FBI and federal marshals, to get their hands on machine guns, grenades, and other military weapons."
I would agree with this too. Unless someone is involved in full time law enforcement, there should be strict limits on supplying essentially untrained or inexperienced people with military grade arms and ammunition. As the article shows, these people will use lame excuses to arm up and break down doors. And for what? A student loan?
As an retired federal agent I completely agree. If you are a regulatory agency like the USDA, EPA, FCC the Department of Education or whatever and you need a high risk warrant served, call the local PD or SO and have them serve it. That's the way it was done historically. There are highly trained people in all the departments mentioned above but they are not highly trained in law enforcement.
What this is really about is not about the glamour aspect of carrying a gun as the writer suggest. Its about getting 6-C retirement coverage and better overtime compensation as a federal LEO.
Only federal employees who's primary and full time responsibility is enforcing the law should be armed.