Why are the IRS, USDA etc arming themselves?

[mps9]

Not sure if this has already been posted/discussed. God Family and Guns on YouTube has posted several short videos recently about several federal agencies buying themselves fully automatic weapons, ammo etc that don't make sense for their role.

Wonder what is going on, any ideas or guesses?

https://youtu.be/VysoYRR8yrA

[SkyHawk]

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1804808

[P5Ret]

IRS has been armed for decades, they used to be called simply "treasury agents, or revenue agents", before being broken up into individual agencies, instead of one giant treasury department.

USDA is responsible for inspections of food crossing the border, and have also been armed. With the number of people crossing the border by any means possible, and a great many of them carrying various street drugs, I can kind of understand the want for something a bit better than a handgun at times.

[The Gleam]

This has been a conspiracy theory going on at least 4 decades now.

I recall this 'alert' about the IRS and USDA buying weaponry of this sort going back to the late 1980's, pre-dating Ruby Ridge and Waco.

Not concerned; they have enforcement teams that go into sketchy places, where being duly armed is necessary. It's not only about processing 1040s and making sure the chickens are salmonella free.

--

[Rickrock1]

This has been a conspiracy theory going on at least 4 decades now.

I recall this 'alert' about the IRS and USDA buying weaponry of this sort going back to the late 1980's, pre-dating Ruby Ridge and Waco.

Not concerned; they have enforcement teams that go into sketchy places, where being duly armed is necessary. It's not only about processing 1040s and making sure the chickens are salmonella free.

--

[Spyder]

A million rounds really isn't that many.

[mps9]

Thanks, sounds like it's business as usual for these agencies but did make me question why they'd need "fully auto" rifles/PDWs especially dept of education and social security etc.

Also I was under the impression some of these agencies simply used the local law enforcement to assist with 'tactical' issues. I wonder what sort of training these agencies provide/require of their armed agents.

[200Apples]

The kind of thing you're wondering about is even depicted on the tee-vee:

Take, for example, the popular new series "Yellowstone". The present-day Dutton family are also USDA LIVESTOCK AGENTS and are armed to the teeth.

In the case of this tv show, it is these right-thinking folks who are also armed (along with the bad guys) and right-thinking persons in positions of authority being armed is something in which every right-thinking American should find some comfort.

It is the tyrant that we wish to eradicate...

booyah!

[200Apples]

A million rounds really isn't that many.

It isn't, is it.

Just a few days' practice is all.

[Gryff]

Any agency that has a law enforcement component needs to have a reasonable amount of ammo for training and operations. While the IRS has more firearms in inventory than Special Agents (currently), their ammo purchases equate to a case of ammo per gun. That is not excessive at all.

[mps9]

Good points- plus I'm sure in a all-hands-on-deck situation like Uvalde where BPD did the heavy lifting in the end or say a situation like Ukraine you need any and all able (preferably trained and equipped) folks willing to defend the defenseless.

The comments section of these videos exploded with the theories of how it's prob all prep for a civil war and all.

[aklon]

Or perhaps the Deep State, like SkyNet, has become self-aware. Government sees the polls suggesting a critical percentage of the populace believe a resort to arms may be the only way to secure our freedoms and so government is arming in self-defense.

[200Apples]

lol aklon - while you've always been an asset to calguns (thank you), this most-recent post of yours must be tongue-in-cheek.

Why?

Because a government using arms against it's citizens would be entirely offensive, just as is their current behavior.

[joe schmoe]

IRS has been armed for decades, they used to be called simply "treasury agents, or revenue agents", before being broken up into individual agencies, instead of one giant treasury department.

USDA is responsible for inspections of food crossing the border, and have also been armed. With the number of people crossing the border by any means possible, and a great many of them carrying various street drugs, I can kind of understand the want for something a bit better than a handgun at times.

Actually you are incorrect on both. At the IRS, there is only one component that is armed, which are Criminal Investigation (CI) Special Agents. They previously were under the Intelligence Division. Revenue Agents have never been armed and are/were not under the Intelligence Division or Criminal Investigation. The only other division that was armed under IRS that is no longer with them is internal security, which broke off into it's own agency in 1999 called TIGTA that is no longer part of the IRS. They have armed Special Agents who are the Internal Affairs for IRS employees and also investigate threats against the IRS.

As for USDA - food inspectors are NOT armed, even those at the border. The components within USDA that are armed and have LE authority are USFS LE rangers, USFS Special Agents and OIG Special Agents. The USDA does issue rifles to some employees (outside of LE rangers/special agents and OIG Special Agents), not for protection, but for wildlife management, if it is part of the employee's job duties. No, they are not M4's or anything like that. LE Rangers/Special Agents and OIG Special Agents do get the cool toys, including black rifles.

The kind of thing you're wondering about is even depicted on the tee-vee:

Take, for example, the popular new series "Yellowstone". The present-day Dutton family are also USDA LIVESTOCK AGENTS and are armed to the teeth.

In the case of this tv show, it is these right-thinking folks who are also armed (along with the bad guys) and right-thinking persons in positions of authority being armed is something in which every right-thinking American should find some comfort.

It is the tyrant that we wish to eradicate...

booyah!

Sorry, this is wrong. The "livestock agents" you see portrayed in Yellowstone are not part of USDA or the federal government at all. They are employed by the Montana Department of Livestock.

[200Apples]

The "livestock agents" you see portrayed in Yellowstone are not part of USDA or the federal government at all. They are employed by the Montana Department of Livestock.

Thank you. I sit corrected.