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Government
Why are the feds loading up on so much ammo?
2013-02-08
In a puzzling, unexplained development, the Obama administration has been buying and storing vast amounts of ammunition in recent months, with the Department of Homeland Security just placing another order for an additional 21.6 million rounds.

Several other agencies of the federal government also began buying large quantities of bullets last year. The Social Security Administration, for instance, not normally considered on the frontlines of anything but dealing with seniors, explained that its purchase of millions of rounds was for special agents' required quarterly weapons qualifications. They must be pretty poor shots.

But DHS has been silent about its need for numerous orders of bullets in the multiple millions. Indeed, Examiner writer Ryan Keller points out Janet Napolitano's agency illegally redacted information from some ammunition solicitation forms following media inquiries.

According to one estimate, just since last spring DHS has stockpiled more than 1.6 billion bullets, mainly .40 caliber and 9mm. That's sufficient firepower to shoot every American about five times. Including illegal immigrants.

To provide some perspective, experts estimate that at the peak of the Iraq war American troops were firing around 5.5 million rounds per month. At that rate, DHS is armed now for a 24-year Iraq war.

The perceived need for so much ammunition in federal custody is especially strange given Obama's double-barreled emphasis in his inaugural address on the approaching end in Afghanistan "of a decade of war." And he also noted, "We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war."

The lack of a credible official explanation for such awesome ammunition acquisitions is feeding all sorts of conspiracy theories, mainly centered on federal anticipation of some kind of domestic insurrection. Napolitano has at times alluded to threats from the extreme right-wing.

Other conspiracists harken back to an Obama Colorado campaign speech in July, 2008. That day he deviated from his prepared text to say:

"We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

Writing at American Thinker, Lee Cary noted at the time that the speech context seemed to involve expanded opportunities for community service. But as still happens when Obama goes off-teleprompter, his non-fortuitous word choice on the fly such as "national security force" prompted numerous writers to speculate since about some kind of national Obama para-military force.

And as great as Obama's unlikely, newly-revealed passion for skeet-shooting might be, that involves shotguns, not handguns over-heated from blasting off millions of rounds.

Additionally, Napolitano, a former governor of Arizona, is widely expected to seek the 2016 Democrat presidential nomination. But you wouldn't think she'd need that much ammo for such a bid.

The lack of good answers makes one paranoid. Lord knows I'm paranoid enough of this government and this really doesn't make me more at ease. Especially with the push to disarm us.
Posted by:DarthVader

#38  "That's sufficient firepower to shoot every American about five times"

Good. I don't want to be crawling down the sidewalk wounded. If they're gonna shoot me - they better man up and do it right.
Posted by: Raider   2013-02-08 23:23  

#37  badanov, that's just the way California rolls.

I was talking about the Feds, 2 billion rounds for the Feds, alone.

California, they buy weed, condoms and transgender sensitivity for their officers to train with, not bullets.
Posted by: rammer   2013-02-08 22:11  

#36  Yep, they really need all that ammo. Dja see where the LAPD open fired on two unarmed women and only managed to wing one?

What do you call an LA police officer who empties his weapon and only hits his target twice?

Marksman.

That's no good when the zombies come...
Posted by: badanov   2013-02-08 21:22  

#35  No doubt there are shenanigans going on in the awarding of contracts, but the U.S. Government needs a bunch of ammo. Every year every member of the armed services, and many law enforcement folks need to qualify on their weapons. Before 2001 only grunts, marines, and special people really had to do annual qualification. Afterwards, everybody does.

You can see the results of the change in this article from 2004.

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2001834393_ammo11.html

Here the Army manufacturing plant is maxing out at 1.5 billion rounds a year. And they need more.

We only shot something like 60 million rounds in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2005. It is important to realize that real serious wartime needs are less than 5% of routine training requirements.

A couple billion bullets sounds like a lot, but that is really about what we shoot every year. It's a big country with a big government. Hyperventilate about that instead of the bullets.

Posted by: rammer   2013-02-08 20:38  

#34  I do believe the procurement that oversees this contract lives in North Carolina from checking a few days ago. Will check again.

www.zabasearch.com is great at checking that stuff.
Posted by: Dino Shomomp7692   2013-02-08 19:41  

#33  #30 So how does this work? A contract gets awarded to a newly sprouted company that doesn't appear to manufacture or sell anything. Is this like one of those "green" companies that goes belly-up half-way through next year? I suppose a person could call the contract administrator and make inquiries but then again it might not be such a good idea.


Typically a "minority owned" vendor that is a shell business puts in a bid for portion of a program that is the minority/disadvantaged set-aside part of a program. That shell just passes the order through to the real vendor, after raking off a percentage for their 'trouble'. Yet another way to pay off your supporters.
Posted by: Nero   2013-02-08 18:33  

#32  Hodge or Hodges???

D *** NG IT, DAT NAME SOUNDS AWFULLY FAMILIAR, BUT WHERE!?

Oh wait ....
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-02-08 18:32  

#31  Always wondered where all the ammo that kept showing up in Fallout 3 came from.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-02-08 18:29  

#30  So how does this work? A contract gets awarded to a newly sprouted company that doesn't appear to manufacture or sell anything. Is this like one of those "green" companies that goes belly-up half-way through next year? I suppose a person could call the contract administrator and make inquiries but then again it might not be such a good idea.
Posted by: JohnQC   2013-02-08 18:23  

#29  http://www.corporationwiki.com/North-Carolina/Charlotte/techelon-consulting-inc/65600043.aspx

Techelon Consulting, Inc. has a location in Charlotte, NC. Active officers include Larayne Whitehead. The company's line of business includes Book Printing.

http://www.governmentcontractswon.com/department/defense/techelon-consulting-inc-962531054.asp?yr=10

Another minority-owned shell.
Posted by: Nero   2013-02-08 18:21  

#28  Payback for election support?
Posted by: JohnQC   2013-02-08 18:12  

#27  http://www.businessminority.com/matthews/nc/

Probable "minority owned" shell company.
Posted by: Nero   2013-02-08 17:59  

#26  Appears Evian group was formed only 5 days prior to the solicitation. A very aggressive crew of business developers.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-02-08 17:57  

#25  Appears they also like handcuffs.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-02-08 17:46  

#24  http://www.manta.com/c/mt12wm4/global-synergy-group-inc

Global Synergy Group, Inc in Matthews, NC is a private company categorized under Small Arms Ammunition. Our records show it was established in and incorporated in North Carolina.

13663 Providence Road # 370
Matthews, NC 28104-9373

Phone:
(704) 254-9886

Larayne Whitehead
Chief Executive Officer
Posted by: Nero   2013-02-08 17:31  

#23  Good work tipover. I'd bet those names lead nowhere.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-02-08 17:27  

#22  Is this one of these shell companies that grow like mushrooms? Kept in the dark and covered with sh!t?
Posted by: JohnQC   2013-02-08 17:00  

#21  From johnQC's link
All the same address, no other contact info.

Officers Include Inactive Officers
Treasurer - ROMAN THARP
Status: Active Email:
Secretary - SCOTT ROGAN
Status: Active Email:
President - LARAYNE WHITEHEAD
Status: Active Email:
Director - GRACE HODGE
Status: Active Email:
Address 1: 105 SOUTH EASTERN AVE Address 2:
City: LAS VEGAS State: NV
Zip Code: 89123 Country: USA
Posted by: tipover   2013-02-08 16:43  

#20   Evian Group, Inc. Nevada incorporation data. Not much here. Mystery company?
Posted by: JohnQC   2013-02-08 16:05  

#19  I hadn't realized that each of the major components of the IGs have armed units, for suitable law enforcement. The social security administration has an armed unit because the IGs can arrest people for SS fraud; and if you're going to have officers who can arrest people, said officers need to be armed and trained. Apparently lots of IG units have police powers.
Posted by: Steve White   2013-02-08 15:20  

#18  Well, there are a lot of Federal agencies that have armed police: Armed agencies. Gang that couldn't shoot straight? Maybe they practice a lot? Somehow, I don't think it's the gang who couldn't shoot straight. Some of these agency police are the best at what they do. Just scanning the wiki list, it may not be too accurate.
Posted by: JohnQC   2013-02-08 15:17  

#17  My guess is the administration was hoping to buy up all the ammo so the yokals can't get any. Typically they don't understand supply and demand.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2013-02-08 14:40  

#16  Blueprint of the closure of a democracy.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-02-08 13:43  

#15  I wonder if dedicated guards are willing to give their lives to defend such a tempting and obvious target against a determined armed assault.

Just saying...
Posted by: badanov   2013-02-08 13:21  

#14  Rob:

What is "Strohs" spelled backwards.
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226   2013-02-08 13:08  

#13  Came up empty.
Posted by: KBK   2013-02-08 12:52  

#12  Aside from the interesting procurement arrangements being explored here, is there any reputable estimate of recent DHS ammo procurement? When I take the time to look at the solicitations, I see training quantities in the hundreds of thousands to low millions, not low billions. But what's a factor of 1000? What difference does it make?

Anyone got a link? I checked Snopes and came empty.
Posted by: KBK   2013-02-08 12:51  

#11  The '105 South Eastern Ave,Las Vegas NV 89123' appears to be an accommodation address.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-02-08 12:40  

#10  Looking at the obvious reasons and Sensing's "looting the treasury" option, I have to say, "Why can't it be both?"

Posted by: Rob Crawford   2013-02-08 12:38  

#9  What's "Evian" spelled backwards?
Posted by: Rob Crawford   2013-02-08 12:35  

#8  No infor found on a "Grace Hodge and Larayne Whitehead", the two registered officers of Evian Group in Nevada. Hard to find the web site for the Clark County Appraisal District to determnine the owner of the address which is supposed to be public record.
Posted by: Dino Shomomp7692   2013-02-08 12:30  

#7  Evian Group is charging half of what the closest bidder bid, 21 cents per hollow point, which is unrealistic.
Posted by: Dino Shomomp7692   2013-02-08 12:24  

#6  Solicitation Number:
HSFLCS-13-Q-00009
Notice Type:
Award
Contract Award Date:
January 2, 2013
Contract Award Number:
HSFLCS-13-P-00012
Contract Award Dollar Amount:
$45,758.00
Contract Line Item Number:
ALL
Contractor Awardee:
EVIAN GROUP, INC. [DUNS: 078701804],105 South Eastern Ave,Las Vegas NV 89123
Synopsis:
Added: Dec 17, 2012 4:04 pm Modified: Jan 02, 2013 2:43 pmTrack Changes
No Description Provided
Additional Info:
www.fedbid.com (b-442047, n-97369)
Contracting Office Address:
2000 Bainbridge Ave., Charleston, SC 29405
Point of Contact(s):
Name: Cynthia Doster, Title: Contracting Officer, Phone: 8435668565, Fax: 8435668561, Email: cynthia.doster@dhs.gov;

Been researching this of the past few days. If you enter the above address of Evian Group you will see nothing but a couple of seedy hotels, service station and money wire location that habla espaniol.

The Evian Group also won $150,000.00 federal government awards on January 4, 2013 for replacement camera housings for an ungodly amount of small cameras and concrete barriers. Award activity ceased on that date.
Posted by: Dino Shomomp7692   2013-02-08 12:18  

#5  Well, here's at least one of the FedBizOpps requests for quotes. I wonder what the contracting officer might have to say, rhetorical question of course.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-02-08 12:11  

#4  Has an Executive Order been issued for all federal employees to take up Skeet Shooting ?
Posted by: Your Name Here   2013-02-08 12:04  

#3  Or because you are planning to use a lot of it - like chip dip and beer at an upcoming party.
Posted by: SteveS   2013-02-08 12:01  

#2  Donald Sensing has a slightly different view.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2013-02-08 12:01  

#1  Why does anyone "load up" on anything? Because they fear, or have knowledge of a future shortage.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-02-08 11:48  

00:00