Stop freaking out about federal government ammo purchases
CNS News has been all over various reports of government agencies like the Social Security Administration (SSA) purchasing ammunition. Drudge Report has also been pointing to stories. As an example, the SSA put out a bid for 174,000 rounds of ammunition. Does that sound like a lot to you?
It’s not, especially if you have almost 300 law enforcement agents working for the Social Security Administration who should be training with the ammunition they carry. As an example, some three day advanced pistol classes go through 750 rounds per day for a total of more than 2,100 rounds. If 300 agents take the three day class one time per year (I hope they would have the opportunity to train more than that) they would require more than 625,000 rounds just for the three day training period.
At least CNS pointed to what SSA posted on their site and Drudge Report picked up the explanation.
The blog states that the SSA has 295 special agents who work in 66 offices across the United States.
“These investigators have full law enforcement authority, including executing search warrants and making arrests,” the blog post states. “Our investigators are similar to your State or local police officers.
“They use traditional investigative techniques, and they are armed when on official duty,” the blog post states.
Concern expressed in some media reports about the type of ammunition ordered by the agency is unfounded, the blog states, explaining that the .357 Sig 125 grain bonded jacked hollow point pistol ammunition is “standard issue for many law enforcement agencies” and is appropriate for the work agents perform.
To be clear and confirm, there is nothing special about the .357 Sig round referenced. It’s not only standard issue for many law enforcement officers, it’s also a somewhat popular self-defense round for civilians.
9 Comments
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Steve, thank you for providing perspective to any prissy-pants nannies out there who haven’t a clue. Anyone who makes their living as a sworn officer has to train. Not only train with their personal service pistol but with the other firearms, non-lethal weapons, etc. The contract for 174k of ammunition is surely just one of many such purchases.
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Professional and amateur shooters have to spend many hours and a expend lot of ammunition honing their skills. A professional shooter can shoot upwards of 5000 rounds per week. The Olympic shooting participants Metaled (three Gold and one Bronze) by applying well-practiced skill sets.
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I love it when liberals show their anti-gun biases. (They’ll take the Olympic Medals, though!) It is also interesting to catch the conservative side displaying their uninformed attitudes. Any professional in any field of endeavor has to train, practice, school and stay fit. Pistol practice is just one aspect of maintaining professional standards.
Easily go through 500 rounds at a firing range each time I show up.? I’ll suit case 24 wide stack magazines and if with friends carry various models and ammunition.? My State Trooper friends can easily eat up 1,200 rounds in a short afternoon in Avon.
I’m not going to worry until they start mass purchases of Hornady’s “Zombie Max” ammo (“Be PREPARED ? supply yourself for the Zombie Apocalypse”)?
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http://www.hornady.com/ammunition/zombiemax/
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I better run down to Cabela’s and stock up!? 😉
That was to give Jim a chuckle, btw!? 😉
It does figure though that the Gubmint would use relatively expensive 357 SIG vs. say a more ubiquitous 40 S&W (or even 9mm to be honest).? I’m a 45 ACP fan myself…your tax dollars hard at work.
For those in the military and law enforcement, I want to ensure they receive not just adequate, but well above average training with the ability to select the firearm and ammunition that will meet the mission objective and allow them to effectively do their jobs.
Maybe the Mexican drug lords to whom ATF walked guns has subscribed to the “Bullet of the Month Club”.? It could be a free service with the purchase of 200 or more weapons… well, free to everyone except American taxpayers.
I’m not freaking out over ammo purchases, but I find it interesting to know which governmental agencies have armed agents. It seems every department is armed nowadays, and many like to dress up in soldier suits and launch paramilitary raids for basic regulation enforcement issues or politically inspired shakedown – like where did your guitar wood come from?