A taxpayer watchdog group called Open the Books released a study earlier this week that found that non-military government agencies are continuing to stock up on firearms – even “assault rifles” – and ammunition. The Washington Free Beacon reported:
The “Militarization of America” report found civilian agencies spent $1.48 billion on guns, ammunition, and military-style equipment between 2006 and 2014. Examples include IRS agents with AR-15s, and EPA bureaucrats wearing camouflage.
“Regulatory enforcement within administrative agencies now carries the might of military-style equipment and weapons,” Open the Books said. “For example, the Food and Drug Administration includes 183 armed ‘special agents,’ a 50 percent increase over the ten years from 1998-2008. At Health and Human Services (HHS), ‘Special Office of Inspector General Agents’ are now trained with sophisticated weaponry by the same contractors who train our military special forces troops.”
Open the Books found there are now over 200,000 non-military federal officers with arrest and firearm authority, surpassing the 182,100 personnel who are actively serving in the U.S. Marines Corps.
The IRS spent nearly $11 million on guns, ammunition, and military-style equipment for its 2,316 special agents. The tax collecting agency has billed taxpayers for pump-action and semi-automatic shotguns, semi-automatic Smith & Wesson M&P15s, and Heckler & Koch H&K 416 rifles, which can be loaded with 30-round magazines.
The EPA spent $3.1 million on guns, ammo, and equipment, including drones, night vision, “camouflage and other deceptive equipment,” and body armor.
This is ironic, given that Democrats – led by Democrat Rep. John Lewis – staged a “sit-in” protest on the House floor, hoping to force a vote on gun control measures that would make it more difficult for everyday Americans to purchase guns. Maybe they should stage a protest aimed at getting the over-200,000 government bureaucrats to give up their guns.
http://constitution.com/unbelieveable-government-bureaucrats-guns-marines/