Posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2016 3:07 pm

By Paul Campbell

 

We all know that President Obama increases gun sales throughout the country every time he makes a speech on the need for gun control. Two million hand guns were purchased in January after he was re-elected.

 

But now we know that at the same time he is purchasing millions of dollars  worth of guns for federal employees. 

 

During a nine-year period through 2014, some 67 federal agencies not affiliated with the Defense Department have spent $1.48 billion on guns and ammunition. The Internal Revenue Service, which has 2,316 special agents, spent nearly $11 million on guns, ammunition and military-style equipment. That’s nearly $5,000 in gear for each agent. 

 

We know all of this - and lots more - because of a report that was just released by OpenTheBooks.com, an organization seeking more transparency in government. It was able to gain access to financial transactions by many government agencies.

 

Tom Coburn, a physician and highly respected former U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, is honorary chairman of the organization, and Adam Andrzejewski is the founder and CEO. The two wrote an article in the June 17 issue of The Wall Street Journal.

 

In all fairness, the purchase of guns and ammunitions by non-defense agencies began during the George W. Bush administration, or maybe even sooner. But of the nearly $11 million spent by the IRS, more than $9 million of that has been spent since Obama has been president.

 

I can at least understand why the government feels a need to protect the IRS. After all, the highly politicized agency is despised by many people, and top IRS officials are arrogant and biased against Republicans.

 

But how about the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, "which spent $4.77 million purchasing shotguns, .308 caliber rifles, night-vision goggles, propane cannons, liquid explosives, pyro supplies, buckshot, LP gas cannons, drones, remote-control helicopters, thermal cameras, military waterproof thermal infrared scopes and more?" according to the article.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency - yes, the EPA - spent $3.1 million on guns, ammunition and military-style equipment. The EPA has put $800 million into its "Criminal Enforcement Division" since 2005.

 

As one of my favorite economists, Stephen Moore, asked, "Why does the EPA need guns, ammo and armor to protect the environment?"

 

The two authors of the WSJ say all of these facts raise the question: "Who are they preparing to battle?"

 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed that it is purchasing 174,000 rounds of hollow-point bullets to be delivered to 41 locations in major cities across the U.S. 

 

Retired Major General Jerry Curry asked in a recent article, "Why are domestic government agencies purchasing enough lethal ammunition to put five rounds in every American?"

 

Regarding the SSA’s purchase, Curry wrote, "Those against whom the hollow-point bullets are to be used - those causing the civil unrest - must be American citizens since the SSA has never been used overseas to help foreign countries maintain control of their citizens."

 

What would be the target of those 174,000 rounds of hollow-point bullets?

 

"It can’t be simply to control rioters," Curry said. "Hollow-point bullets are so lethal that the Geneva Convention does not allow their use on the battlefield in time of war. Hollow-point bullets don’t just stop or hurt people, they penetrate the body, spread out, fragment and cause maximum damage to the body’s organs. Death often follows."

 

He stressed that each bullet represents a dead American.

 

"If so, why would the U.S. government want the SSA to kill 174,000 of our citizens, even during a time of civil unrest?" he asked.

 

Government officials aren’t talking when it comes to explaining such things as why the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has 3,700 law-enforcement officers guarding and securing VA medical centers, spent $11.66 million on weaponry. This included more than $200,000 on night-vision equipment, $2.3 million for body armor, more than $2 million on guns, and $3.6 million for ammunition, according to OpenTheBooks.com 

 

The VA employed no officers with firearm authorization as recently as 1995.

 

 All of this is greatly disturbing and fishy while at the same time being highly hypocritical on the part of the Obama Administration. It looks like the president, who would like to see fewer guns on the street, likes to have as many weapons as possible in the hands of government workers.