BigMike Loc: yerington nv

If anyone put words in anyone's mouth, you did it to me. No offense meant. My "arming themselves to the teeth" comment is about things that have been going on for many years, not the recent headlines about the government buying ammunition, and I continue to stand by that statement. I felt like the way you dismissed it was a distraction from the point.

RetNavyCWO Loc: VA suburb of DC

No problems, BigMike. Sorry, didn't mean to distract from your point. I agree that over the long haul, governments at all levels are much more armed than they used to be. I forget how long ago it was (15 yrs maybe?), but I seem to recall that it started with a couple of armed robbers with automatic weapons who covered themselves head to toe with Kevlar that the cops' bullets just bounced off of. The cops had to go arm themselves with weapons they commandeered at a gun store while the gun battle was still raging. Remember that?

I wasn't disagreeing with your point. I had just read that article in American Rifleman and wanted to add to it in light of the recent (ridiculous) hysteria that the government is arming itself in advance of declaring martial law.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

I reckon it is comforting to believe the current administration would never impose martial law and pass off the possibility as nothing but paranoia--"(ridiculous) hysteria". But you gotta ask yourself why 73 government agencies now have armed divisions with police powers. These include the IRS, EPA, DOE, NPS, B*M, USPS, VHA, SSA, HHS and DOT--to name a few.

Personally, I don't trust the federal government, especially this administration, as far as I could throw a truck. Anything is possible with this regime.

"The price of Liberty is eternal vigilance."

Loki Loc: Georgia

I found it curious that the Social Security Administration was on the list of ammo recipients, but after realizing the nefarious criminals these brave apparatchiks face, I now understand.

oldboy

RetNavyCWO Loc: VA suburb of DC

Even if this - or any other - administration wanted to impose martial law, I just can't see it absent some kind of worldwide uprising. The biggest danger of the need for martial law, as I see it, is some rich guy getting hold of a popular tv network to foment distrust of their government, filling citizens' heads with all kinds of lies and other bulls**t. Oh, wait! Maybe you're on to something!

BigMike Loc: yerington nv

Sorry, history is so full of citizens surprised by their government turning rogue I can't feel as sanguine about it as you do. 2000 years ago a fellow made a prophecy about a one world government, and sure as heck, it's drifting that way. I think it's cause for attentiveness, at least.

VladimirPee

I think Hugo Chavez made the same argument when he closed opposition media down.

Papabear

To All: I am going to post two letters to this article in regards to the mass purchasing of ammunition: we are well aware of it, the first letter is going to be from Ret. Capt Terry Hestilow out of Texas to his State Senator, the 2nd letter is what I read to Congressman David Price at a town hall meeting, he is a Demo, I support no PARTY.

Re: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and that agencies pr********n for war against citizens of the United States of America
by Terry Michael Hestilow (Notes) on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 1:10pm
Dear friends, the following is a copy of my correspondence with Senator Cornyn concerning the arming of the DHS for war against the citizens of our nation. You are each encouraged to copy and properly amend this letter to send to your own senators and members of the U.S. House. Further, I am somewhat overwhelmed at the response to my posts leading up to this letter on this issue. At this point almost 3,000 of you have shared my original post, I have 994 new friends requests, 61 messages, and 70 new comments to process. Please be patient with me and pray that this window of communication remains open to all of us as we respond to this threat against our Constitution and our people. I am awed by you, by your positive response, and your wonderful support. We each have a role to play in standing against this present tyranny. Part of that proper response is sending them a letter like this from YOU, and following it up to make sure it remains a "hot button" issue that must be resolved. God bless you as you honor your oaths and your obligations as citizens of this free nation. May we once again know honorable leadership and peace at home. With all sincerity and respect--Resolved, Captain Terry M. Hestilow, United States Army, Retired.

The Honorable Senator John Cornyn, State of Texas
United States Senate
517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Re: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and that agencies pr********n for war against citizens of the
United States of America.


Dear Senator Cornyn,

It is with gravest concern that I write to you today concerning the recent appropriation of weapons by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that can only be understood as a bold threat of war by that agency, and the Obama administration,
against the citizens of the United States of America. To date, DHS has been unwilling to provide to you, the elected representatives of the People, justification for recent purchases of almost 3,000 mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) armored personnel carriers, 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition (with associated weapons), and other weapons systems, when, in fact, the DHS has no war mission or war making authority within the limits of the United States of America.

Significant is the fact that at the same time the Obama administration is arming his DHS for war within the limits of the United States against the People of the United States in accordance with his 2008 campaign speech claiming,

“We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives
that we’ve set. We’ve got to (sic) have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful,
just as strong, just as well funded [as the United States military]” -- Candidate Barack Obama, 2008.

The Obama administration is deliberately defunding, overextending, and hollowing the Department of Defense; the only legitimate agency of the U.S. government with a war mission.

This act of the Obama administration stands as a glaring threat of war against our nation’s citizens! This act of the Obama administration can only be understood as a tyrannical threat against the Constitution of the United States of America! If left unresolved, the peace loving citizens who have sworn to defend the United States Constitution “against all enemies, both foreign and domestic” are left no option except to prepare to defend themselves, and the U.S. Constitution, against this Administration’s “c**p” against the People and the foundations of liberty fought for and defended for the past 238 years. We have no choice if we honor our oaths.

The only proper response to this threat against the American people is for the representatives of the People, the members of the U.S. House and Senate, to demand in clear terms that the Administration cannot ignore, that the Department of Homeland Security immediately surrender their newly appropriated weapons of war to the Department of Defense (DOD). Further, since the DHS has assumed a position in the Administration to enforce the tyrannical acts of this president against the People of the United States against the limits of the United States Constitution, it remains for the United States Congress to exercise its limiting power in the balancing of powers established by our founding fathers, to disestablish and dissolve the DHS as soon as possible. One needs only to look to the rise of Adolf Hitler, and his associated DHS organizations, the SA and the SS, of 1932-1934, to see the outcome of allowing an agency of government this kind of control over the free citizens of a nation. The people of Germany could not have imagined, until it was too late, the danger of allowing a tyrant this kind of power. We must not be so naïve as to think it will not happen to us as well if we remain passive toward this power grab by the Marxist Obama administration!

Finally, for more than two centuries the nation has lived in peace at home because of the protections of our legitimate military and the many appropriate state and federal law enforcement agencies, supported by Constitutional courts. We stand today at a cross-road. Will we allow this present Administration to o*******w our United States Constitution and its legal processes to amend injustices, or, will we honor our obligations to defend the Constitution against a “domestic” enemy? Our Constitution lays out the proper methods of resolving our differences; and it does not include its o*******w by a rogue agency of a Marxist leadership at home. You, sir, are our constitutionally elected agent to defend our Constitution at home. We are counting upon you. We remain aware, however, of this present threat and will not expose ourselves as an easy prey to the authors of the destruction of our nation.

I know that this letter demands much of you. We elected you because we, the citizens of the State of Texas, believe that you are up to the task at hand and will, against all threats, honor your oath and office. We are also writing to your fellow members of the House and Senate to stand in integrity with the Constitution and against this present threat by the Obama
administration and his DHS.

We refuse to surrender our Constitution or our Nation!

Resolved,

Captain Terry M. Hestilow
United States Army, Retired
Fort Worth, Texas
March 23, 2013

Papabear

Now, here is the letter that I read in a Town Hall Meeting with Congressman David Price that just happens to be the Senior democrat on the approbations subcommittee on the DHS. THIS LETTER WAS READ IN IT'S INTIRITY TO THE CONGRESSMAN WITH A PACKED HOUSE IN E.E. SMITH HIGH SCHOOL AUTOTORIUM. I ALSO HAD THE DOCUMENTATION TO BACK UP EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THE LETTER AND PROVIDED HIM AND HIS STAFF WITH 9 FOLDERS, EACH ON A TOPIC IN THE LETTER. IT HAS ALSO BEEN PRESENTED TO BOTH SENATORS OF NC AND ALL CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN OF NC, SEN JOHN MCCAIN, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE:

TO: The Honorable Congressman David Price, State of North Carolina
Democrat, United States House of Representatives
2162 Rayburn Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Subject: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and that agencies pr********n for war against citizens of the United States of America.
Dear Congressman Price
It is my understanding that you are the Senior Democratic Member of DHLS Appropriations Subcommittee so I state the following;
It is with gravest concern that I write to you today concerning the recent appropriation of weapons by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that can only be understood as a bold threat of war by that agency, and the Obama administration, against the citizens of the United States of America.
To date, DHS has been unwilling to provide to you, the elected representatives of the People, justification for recent purchases of almost 3,000 mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) armored personnel carriers, 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition to include Hollow Point Rounds which are illegal to use based on the Geneva Convention (with associated weapons), and other weapons systems.
When, in fact, the DHS has no war mission or war making authority within the limits of the United States of America.
And it is not only the DHS that is stockpiling ammunition; it is the Social Security Administration, and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which I just found out today, my question is: WHY DO THEY NEED AMMUNITION?
In addition, another serious concern is why the DHS contracted with a Minnesota based target manufacture at a cost of $2 million dollars to provide them with paper and cardboard targets that portray a Pregnant Woman, a Woman with a Young Child, a Young Boy and an Elderly Man and an Elderly Woman (not in the same scene).
Although they are armed, to include the Young Boy, they are armed with a Pistol or Shotgun, no Semi-Automatic Weapons, and the appearance is that of a DEFENSIVE POSTURE protecting their property and their lives.
I then ask myself WHY WOULD DHS PURCHASE $2 Million Dollars’ worth of these targets unless they are whom the people noted above are protecting themselves from, the DHS.
It is my contention that the reason the DHS ordered the manufacture of these type targets is for the purpose of DHS Personnel to get familiar with, and comfortable with confronting and eliminating the individuals defending their homes and family.
Significant is the fact that at the same time the Obama administration is arming his DHS for war within the limits of the United States against the People of the United States in accordance with his 2008 campaign speech stating,
“We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set. We’ve got to have a National Civilian Security Force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded [as the United States military]”—as stated by Candidate Barack Obama, 2008.
The Obama administration is deliberately defunding, overextending, and hollowing the Department of Defense; the only legitimate agency of the U.S. government with a war mission.
This act of the Obama administration stands as a glaring threat of war against our nation’s citizens! This act of the Obama administration can only be understood as a tyrannical threat against the Constitution of the United States of America! If left unresolved, the peace loving citizens who have sworn to defend the United States Constitution “against all enemies, both foreign and domestic” are left no option except to prepare to defend ourselves, and the U.S. Constitution, against this Administration’s “c**p” against the People and the foundations of liberty fought for and defended for the past 238 years. We have no choice if we honor our oaths.
The only proper response to this threat against the American people is for the representatives of the People, the members of the U.S. House and Senate, to demand in clear terms that the Administration cannot ignore, that the Department of Homeland Security immediately surrender their newly appropriated weapons of war to the Department of Defense (DOD).
Further, since the DHS has assumed a position in the Administration to enforce the tyrannical acts of this president against the People of the United States against the limits of the United States Constitution, it remains for the United States Congress to exercise its limiting power in the balancing of powers established by our founding fathers, to disestablish and dissolve the DHS as soon as possible.
One needs only to look to the rise of Adolf Hitler, and his associated DHS organizations, the SA and the SS, of 1932-1934, to see the outcome of allowing an agency of government this kind of control over the free citizens of a nation. The people of Germany could not have imagined, until it was too late, the danger of allowing a tyrant this kind of power. We must not be so naïve as to think it will not happen to us as well if we remain passive toward this power grab by the Marxist Obama administration!
Finally, for more than two centuries the nation has lived in peace at home because of the protections of our legitimate military and the many appropriate state and federal law enforcement agencies, supported by Constitutional courts. We stand today at a cross-road. Will we allow this present Administration to o*******w our United States Constitution and its legal processes to amend injustices, or, will we honor our obligations to defend the Constitution against a “domestic” enemy?
Our Constitution lays out the proper methods of resolving our differences; and it does not include its o*******w by a rogue agency of a Marxist leadership at home. You, sir, are our constitutionally elected agent to defend our Constitution at home. We are counting upon you. We remain aware, however, of this present threat and will not expose ourselves as an easy prey to the authors of the destruction of our nation.
I know that this letter demands much of you. We elected you because we, the citizens of the State of North Carolina, believe that you are up to the task at hand and will, against all threats, honor your oath and office. We are also writing to your fellow members of the House and Senate to stand in integrity with the Constitution and against this present threat by the Obama administration and his DHS.
WE REFUSE TO SURRENDER OUR CONSTITUTION, OR OUR NATION!
Respectfully,


1SGT Richard A. Houchen
United States Army, Retired
Fayetteville, North Carolina

March 25, 2013

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Papabear

BLADE RUNNER: In 2011 the DHS purchased 2,700 of these vehicles and they were not do to anything in reduction of military equipment, they ordered the vehicles, same as the purchased 7,000 new M-4 fully automatic rifles, have enough ammunition stored at this time that would sustain a war in Iraq for 25 years, 40% is Hollow Point which is against the Geneva Convention on type of ammunition used in warfare, in addition a large amount of what we call in the military Bull Dog Rounds, these are rounds for 50 Caliber Sniper Rifles, also the requisition from a Minnesota Target Manufacture who supplies targets to the Military, Police, etc., however the targets that the DHS ordered at a cost of $2 Million Dollars were six targets, Non-Traditional Threat Targets, of women, children, and elderly people. They are armed in the photos but with either a pistol or shotgun, on their own property, in clearly a defensive posture protecting their children, property and themselves, ALL WHITE, this type of target is used for training of Sp Ops Operators. We call them desensitizing profile targets, they are used to train new operators to not hesitate to shoot if they come upon a pregnant woman with a pistol in her house, or a woman with her child in the back yard, or a boy 10 to 12 yrs old in his back yard or a woman coming up her driveway with a bag of groceries under her arm or an old man in his yard or an old lady in her kitchen, if they are armed to not hesitate to engage/ BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

Loki Loc: Georgia

I can see some rural Sheriff and Police Departments who might have a legitimate need for all terrain vehicles. They don't appear to be the ones receiving this equipment.

Weyner

Yhis is very interesting to say the least,I knew they were up to no good when they ordered all that ammo and vehicles,we must get rolling on this before its too late.

Weyner

I wonder how many more Senators and Congressmen/Women have been sent these letters,I for one will send it to my Senator and Congressmen?Women to rattle their cage maybe they will get off their ass and do something! This letter really makes my blood boil!LETS GET ROLLING!!!!!

Papabear

Weyner: Mine I did not send to that Congressman, I read it to him in a packed auditorium, as I noted in the letter I stated to him since you are the Senior Democrat On the Appropriations subcommittee can you answer to all the questions that I have asked on why the DHS needs all this ammunition, Mine Resisant Vehicles, 7,000 M-4 Rifles, Bull Dog Rounds that are for use in 50 Cal Snipers Rifles a good portion of the ammo hollow point, and the 6 targets, once I was done, I handed his aide the documents proving what I had just read to him, he looked at me for several seconds and then said NO I CANNOT GIVE YOU AN ANSWER BUT I WILL FIND OUT. Never heard back from him, in addition I mailed out all the information to all Congressman/woman and Senators in the State of NC knowing I would not hear back from any of them, BUT IT PUT THEM ON NOTICE THAT WE KNOW ABOUT IT. As a Member of O**h K****rs and the Quiet Professionals we are tracking this daily. EVERYONE WHO HAS READ THE LETTERS NEEDS TO PRINT THEM OFF, MAKE CHANGES OR ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION GATHER EVIDENCE AND CONFRONT YOUR SENATORS, AND CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN SO THEY KNOW YOU ARE NOT ASLEEP