DHS Purchases 21.6 Million More Rounds of Ammunition

[gatorman_07732]

Originally Posted by oragator1

I don't question that the government is buying more ammo that is clear. But first, the 450 million order they quote, if you read the linked article this is what it says:



So in reality that order is probably only guaranteed for 20% of the actual total or maybe 40% or so if they were generous in the contract, which means not only should the full number not be counted, even if they went the full amount it wouldn't be in stock for 5 years.
They say 1.6 billion but only provide info on 670 million or so, and even that 670 is dubious as I pointed out.
DHS controls the Coast Guard, border protection, ICE, TSA, and most importantly Secret Service, so there are a broad group of organizations they are responsible for and would explain some of the types of munitions.
We don't know what their burn rate is annually in training for all of these groups, training can require as much as combat often times, especially modern combat where a small number of soldiers actually use them in the field (DHS has 200k people total).
We don't know if there is a federal law on reserve requirements for munitions.
And finally, they tie the whole story to a couple of quotes about immigrants and unpatriotic peoples as the reason, without taking into account all of the other groups that would be under this umbrella or providing the full rationale on the 1.6 billion number as I stated.

It's a scare piece, if you read that full article the only amount guaranteed is around 400 million or less, and that covers every agency above, every type of weapon, every usage scenario (training, enforcement, joint Ops, combat etc.), and buying in bulk now makes sense for the government because they are going to get their funds cut and possibly cut massively if the sequester comes to pass. They are stocking up now on what they will need for the rest of Obama's term or longer in case the government makes the decision for them. If people want to go apocalyptic about it they can I guess, but doesn't seem irrational to me from a government standpoint (government rationality being a relative term).

Fair point

[gator7_5]

Originally Posted by wgbgator

It blows my mind that we Americans are literally safer and are at our least violent than at almost any point in our history, yet people feel the need to hoard weapons & ammunition in doomsday bunkers in anticipation of some kind of Mathusian struggle.

You have absolutely no idea what the future holds.

[wgbgator]

Originally Posted by gator7_5

You have absolutely no idea what the future holds.

Well, no one does. Some people save money, build their resume/skills and invest wisely, others build bunkers and hoard ammo, I guess.

[gator7_5]

Originally Posted by wgbgator

Well, no one does. Some people save money, build their resume/skills and invest wisely, others build bunkers and hoard ammo, I guess.

Some are multi-taskers and do both. Guess it's the boy scout in me.

In certain situations, one or the other is useless.

[wgbgator]

Originally Posted by gator7_5

Some are multi-taskers and do both. Guess it's the boy scout in me.

In certain situations, one or the other is useless.

Of course, preparing for unlikely contigencies entails an opportunity cost of sorts.

[Minister_of_Information]

Yep. Clearly the Coast Guard and Secret Service need 5 bajillion rounds for training purposes.

[rpmGator]

I am gonna die one way or the other and it won't be in a hole I dug myself.

I have guns and ammo, but also understand that no matter how much food you store, you have to know how to grow more and keep seeds if you are to live much longer than your MRE's will take you.

During the oil boycott years, a rumor that toilet paper supply was running out caused the Winn Dixie I worked at as a teen, to run out in one day. It took a couple weeks to catch up to the buying, and then we had too much as everyone had a years supply.

There won't be anything left after a few hours after things hit the fan, and no supply coming to replace it. We could feed ourselves in Floirda back then with our own farms, that is no longer the case and we rely on transport to keep us supplied.

At my age, leave me some good bourbon and enough ammo to hold them off, and find somewhere else to live, instead of finding a place to die.

[HALLGATOR]

I will only give up when they pry the mouse from my cold dead fingers.

[gatorman_07732]

Originally Posted by HALLGATOR

I will only give up when they pry the mouse from my cold dead fingers.

I'm sure you'll be on gator country

[HALLGATOR]

Originally Posted by gatorman_07732

I'm sure you'll be on gator country

That's the only way to go out.

[MichaelJoeWilliamson]

Ammunition has some wonderful accounting properties. It costs a lot of money to purchase, can be resold with trivial ease and viturally no traceability, and it’s an “anonymously consumable” item. The shortfall between the amount purchased and current inventory is whatever was expended on the shooting range, with no way to verify the consumption.

It can be traded to other agencies and departments who have shortfalls, sold on the international black market, sold on the above-board international market, or sold back to wholesalers with a wink and a nod.

http://www.transterrestrial.com/?p=47627#comment-302040

[wargunfan]

I fail to understand why anyone on the left would feel threatened by an individual who, acting as a free citizen within the law, chooses to own a firearm. You will not be accosted in any way by these folks. They respect and abide by the law. They feel that it is prudent to be able to defend their homes and persons from criminals. They want the government to know that any attempt at tyranny will be a very unpleasant adventure. But unless and until that happens they will be as harmless as doves. Why does anyone feel threatened by these citizens?

[gatorpa]

Originally Posted by rivergator

as has been pointed out, the percent of people owning guns has been steadily declining for 30 years.

Don't you mean "legally" Or having "registered" guns has declined....

[wargunfan]

The only statistic that has declined is "known" firearms. Actual numbers of firearms in the hands of the citizenry has grown. There are twenty million collectors in the US who each own scores to hundreds of modern firearms. These are a part of the three hundred million firearms in private ownership. These are the weapons which will be available to The People in a time of tyranny. May it never happen.

[GolphinGator]

I don't have a whole or bunker and I don't want one. I do have enough ammo to have fun using it up while I finish off the beer before the drone takes me out.

[MichaelJoeWilliamson]

Originally Posted by rivergator

as has been pointed out, the percent of people owning guns has been steadily declining for 30 years.

I do no think that is true in the USA. Can you provide a link?

[DaveFla]

Originally Posted by wgbgator

Well, no one does. Some people save money, build their resume/skills and invest wisely, others build bunkers and hoard ammo, I guess.

And at some point, I believe, we will find out which was the correct decision. I'd tell you one thing... I sure as hell would hate to be holed up in my house with only a well-polished resume and the ability to balance my checkbook when those who will do me and my family harm come a knocking at my door...

How about you?

[gator7_5]

Originally Posted by DaveFla

And at some point, I believe, we will find out which was the correct decision. I'd tell you one thing... I sure as hell would hate to be holed up in my house with only a well-polished resume and the ability to balance my checkbook when those who will do me and my family harm come a knocking at my door...

How about you?

"STOP! I have a Masters!"

Seriously though, as mentioned above, guns and ammo are incredible investments. They'll NEVER decrease in value. A smart investor diversifies his portfolio.

[g8trjax]

Originally Posted by gator7_5

"STOP! I have a Masters!"

Seriously though, as mentioned above, guns and ammo are incredible investments. They'll NEVER decrease in value. A smart investor diversifies his portfolio.

Some people will never get this. Guns frighten them, so no one should own one.

[gatornana]

Originally Posted by g8trjax

Some people will never get this. Guns frighten them, so no one should own one.

Ummm....it's not necessarily the guns that frighten people.