USDA OIG solicitation for .40S&W SMGs w/30 round mags...

[ezkl2230]

According to the USDA web site,

Pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978 and Section 1337 of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-98), OIG Investigations is the law enforcement arm of the Department, with Department-wide investigative jurisdiction. OIG Special Agents conduct investigations of significant criminal activities involving USDA programs, operations, and personnel, and are authorized to make arrests, execute warrants, and carry firearms. The types of investigations conducted by OIG Special Agents involve criminal activities such as frauds in subsidy, price support, benefits, and insurance programs; significant thefts of Government property or funds; bribery; extortion; smuggling; and assaults on employees. Investigations involving criminal activity that affects the health and safety of the public, such as meat packers who knowingly sell hazardous food products and individuals who tamper with food regulated by USDA, are also high-profile investigative priorities. In addition, OIG Special Agents are poised to provide emergency law enforcement response to USDA declared emergencies and suspected incidents of terrorism affecting USDA regulated industries, as well as USDA programs, operations, personnel, and installations, in coordination with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, as appropriate.

Here is the solicitation. NOTE THAT NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST FOR THIS SOLICITATION! The USDA is essentially initiating an untraceable acquisition process, with the names of firearms manufacturers being kept out of the public eye.

Link Removed

I just faxed a copy of this solicitation, along with the following email, to the one representative from my congressional district that will actually listen. Levin and Stabenow are worthless to contact.

Congressman, this has gotten WAY out of hand. We have far more "law enforcement" agencies at the federal level than anyone can keep track of, and they are all arming themselves with automatic weapons. Now the USDA is jumping on the SMG bandwagon, in case of acts of "agricultural terrorism."


This has got to stop. Simply speaking, there is no logical reason why each and every agency must have its own armed law enforcement agency, especially armed with automatic weapons. If we are going to downsize the federal government, there can be no better starting point than to reduce the number of armed law enforcement agencies that exist within each federal government agency. It is the increasing number of this kind of solicitation for automatic weapons by federal agencies that is driving fears about the intentions of our government. It must stop. Now.


A VERY CONCERNED CITIZEN,

 

[sdprof]

Yes, we need a Federal Agency Disarmament Act introduced in Congress, now!

 

[Peggy Reist]

I actually heard about this first on Facebook FROM my Congressman. He's a little upset with the alphabet agencies too.
And apparently they've now added a request for body armor to the mix.
Now, my family have been farmers for many years and deal with the USDA on a regular basis, as do all farmers, ranchers, fruit growers, and so on. But never in all those years have I ever imagined a scenario where any of they would have any need for a machine gun or body armor.

 

[chilipeppernorm]

Of course the USDA needs a SWAT team with fully auto weapons and helicopters and such. Everyone knows you can't inspect a packing plant if you're not packing, rampaging animals could stampede and escape! Take the tomato harvest for instance, what if a food fight broke out with an unlimited supply of tomato's?? There could be multiple cases of tomato trauma to the workers. The Department of Agriculture must be prepared to respond with vigor and decisiveness to such acts of animal and plant based anarchy.

 

[NotTwoShure]

Kristine M. Fairbanks and K-9, killed in the line of duty, end of watch 09/20/2008,
Christopher A. Upton killed in the line of duty, end of watch 03/05/2010,
Jason Crisp and K-9, killed in the line of duty, end of watch 03/12/2014.
FLETA certified officers. They back up county officers, DPS and others. They have certified K-9 officers who are sometimes cross trained in drug and attack. They are not just meat inspectors. They work under the authority granted them by the people to protect our national forests. They deserve our respect. For the most part they are out on their own without much back up unless they call for it.

 

[NotTwoShure]

You are way off on this. They are out by themselves for the most part in the forests.

 

[NotTwoShure]

Of course the USDA needs a SWAT team with fully auto weapons and helicopters and such. Everyone knows you can't inspect a packing plant if you're not packing, rampaging animals could stampede and escape! Take the tomato harvest for instance, what if a food fight broke out with an unlimited supply of tomato's?? There could be multiple cases of tomato trauma to the workers. The Department of Agriculture must be prepared to respond with vigor and decisiveness to such acts of animal and plant based anarchy.

Kristine M. Fairbanks and K-9, killed in the line of duty, end of watch 09/20/2008,
Christopher A. Upton killed in the line of duty, end of watch 03/05/2010,
Jason Crisp and K-9, killed in the line of duty, end of watch 03/12/2014.
FLETA certified officers. They back up county officers, DPS and others. They have certified K-9 officers who are sometimes cross trained in drug and attack. They are not just meat inspectors. They work under the authority granted them by the people to protect our national forests. They deserve our respect. For the most part they are out on their own without much back up unless they call for it.

 

[NotTwoShure]

I actually heard about this first on Facebook FROM my Congressman. He's a little upset with the alphabet agencies too.
And apparently they've now added a request for body armor to the mix.
Now, my family have been farmers for many years and deal with the USDA on a regular basis, as do all farmers, ranchers, fruit growers, and so on. But never in all those years have I ever imagined a scenario where any of they would have any need for a machine gun or body armor.

They are in the forests alone.

 

[NotTwoShure]

Link Removed

Reflections for Officer Kristine Marie Fairbanks, United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations, U.S. Government

 

[BluesStringer]

And in related news.....

Synopsis:

Added: May 07, 2014 2:24 pm

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, located in Washington, DC and Regional Offices, pursuant to the authority of FAR Part 13, has a requirement for the commercial acquisition of ballistic vests, compliant with NIJ 0101.06 for Level IIIA Ballistic Resistance of body armor. Body armor is gender specific, lightweight, trauma plate/pad (hard or soft), concealable carrier, tactical vest, undergarment (white), identification Link Removed, accessories (6 pouches), body armor carry bag, and professional measurements."

And Mike Vanderboegh's take on that description for tactical-vest body armor:

The 6 pouch and tactical vest requirement description on this USDA quote confirm that these are ASSAULT vests. They're what troops wear in an attack evolution. This is a full military-styled kit, not designed for typical defensive security work.

There are states in this Union that outlaw body armor for civilians (I know for sure that CT is one such state, and know others have been contemplating outlawing it, maybe already have since last checking). I wore body armor as a civilian every work-day for five years while working for an armored transport company. The company would split the cost with employees, so we could afford to get very good armor, but there were company-imposed limitations. The limitation that they would not ever allow exceptions for was that the vests couldn't have MOLLE or other types of accessory-attachment points on them, and the reason was exactly what Mike alludes to above - tactical vests capable of carrying 180 extra rounds of 5.56 ammo is an offensive piece of equipment, not just a defense against being attacked with a gun. The company had no intention of projecting the image of a private army, it just wanted to make available all the equipment that increases safety and security for its employees.

Body armor is hot as all get-out even without adding other layers of heat-retaining pouches and the discomfort of carrying the extra weight of that ammo. Nobody walks around with that much weight and offensive power just to go inspect a meat-packing plant or slaughter house or whatever.

"There! His Majesty can now read my name without glasses. And he can double the reward on my head!" -- John Hancock after signing his name in large letters on the Declaration of Independence

Blues

 

[chilipeppernorm]

Kristine M. Fairbanks and K-9, killed in the line of duty, end of watch 09/20/2008,
Christopher A. Upton killed in the line of duty, end of watch 03/05/2010,
Jason Crisp and K-9, killed in the line of duty, end of watch 03/12/2014.
FLETA certified officers. They back up county officers, DPS and others. They have certified K-9 officers who are sometimes cross trained in drug and attack. They are not just meat inspectors. They work under the authority granted them by the people to protect our national forests. They deserve our respect. For the most part they are out on their own without much back up unless they call for it.

My sincere condolences to the fallen officers families, friends, and peers including you if you knew them. That being said, I believe the original intent and thrust of this post was around an ever expanding alphabet soup of federal agencies with redundant and overlapping responsibilities clamoring for a law enforcement or paramilitary arm of each said agency. The primary role of the USDA is providing for a safe and healthy food supply for Americans, primarily accomplished through inspections and monitoring and enforced by fines or levies up to and including halting production or closing facilities and prosecuting violators. I've not heard of these tasks requiring armed agents or soldiers. I don't know to what purpose the fallen officers were alone in the woods, chasing poachers, drug growers or labs, or what agency tasked them to do so. It sounds a lot like the role game wardens face daily. Regardless, tragic as their loss is, it has nothing whatsoever to do with the topic we're posting on.

 

[Ringo]

The New World Oder meticulously moving forward...one step at a time.

 

[NotTwoShure]

My sincere condolences to the fallen officers families, friends, and peers including you if you knew them. That being said, I believe the original intent and thrust of this post was around an ever expanding alphabet soup of federal agencies with redundant and overlapping responsibilities clamoring for a law enforcement or paramilitary arm of each said agency. The primary role of the USDA is providing for a safe and healthy food supply for Americans, primarily accomplished through inspections and monitoring and enforced by fines or levies up to and including halting production or closing facilities and prosecuting violators. I've not heard of these tasks requiring armed agents or soldiers. I don't know to what purpose the fallen officers were alone in the woods, chasing poachers, drug growers or labs, or what agency tasked them to do so. It sounds a lot like the role game wardens face daily. Regardless, tragic as their loss is, it has nothing whatsoever to do with the topic we're posting on.

OK, I know the real issue is the ABC of the feds being way out of control. Yes, friends and family are directly involved. I just got off Facebook jumping up and down about this. I am aware of the BLM and their issues in Nevada. I see both sides from all directions. I know we are talking of the feds overreach and it bothers me to no end. The Forest Service has a really hard job. They are hated by many for enforcing rules on not just camping but in the cutting down of trees in pristine areas and even illegals coming in and starting fires. It is a fine line between acting and over reacting on the feds part and the civilians. I too believe they are overstepping and it is a sorry shame. The feds are not the feds of say even the 1980's. We have such an out of control POTUS on down. OK, I am babbling again.

 

[JimTh]

Kristine M. Fairbanks and K-9, killed in the line of duty, end of watch 09/20/2008,
Christopher A. Upton killed in the line of duty, end of watch 03/05/2010,
Jason Crisp and K-9, killed in the line of duty, end of watch 03/12/2014.
FLETA certified officers. They back up county officers, DPS and others. They have certified K-9 officers who are sometimes cross trained in drug and attack. They are not just meat inspectors. They work under the authority granted them by the people to protect our national forests. They deserve our respect. For the most part they are out on their own without much back up unless they call for it.

Hey...maybe in your zeal your could start ticking off all of the innocent citizens killed by law enforcement...or would the list be too damned long for you?

 

[NotTwoShure]

Hey...maybe in your zeal your could start ticking off all of the innocent citizens killed by law enforcement...or would the list be too damned long for you?

No, I think I could, I just don't know what zip code to start with, so many you know.

 

[Warrior1256]

They are getting ready, are we???

 

[BluesStringer]

They are getting ready, are we???

There have been some decent signs in recent weeks/months. Bundy, Recapture Canyon, a couple of other water and property rights confrontations with the .fedgov in NM. It seems the people most willing to take a physical stand are called to action around property rights, which they count on for their livelihoods. Have the ones who have shown up to help and/or protect them been "ready?" Not by a long-shot. Tons of infighting between militia and Oath Keepers in Bunkerville. Wars of words and sides taken by the uninvolved onlookers in that rift across several websites of liberty-minded bloggers and Patriot groups. A day or two after making the BLM back down, militia released a video that said the OK'ers "should consider themselves lucky they're not being shot in the back for desertion" when OK'ers stupidly acted on false-flag intel about a drone strike and retreated to their hotel rooms in town. OK'ers answered that video with one of their own alleging that militia had pulled guns on their members, almost fired on a small convoy of cop cars driving on the highway near the encampment, allegations of theft of expensive night vision and comms gear and so on. These were all people ready and willing to die in the first battle of the first real Civil War in America, but whose egos and apparent blood-lust couldn't be held in check during the down-time and leaderless "hurry up and wait" hours post-showdown.

So the signs are that people are willing. The facts are that many of them have no idea what it will take and are just as likely to kill each other once the shooting starts as to kill the enemy. The enemy doesn't suffer with a deficiency of well-trained personnel who follow orders and understand well the importance of, and adherence to, a well-organized command structure.

Finding the willing is certainly part of "getting" ready, but organizing them is going to be like herding cats, or in some cases, like herding rattlesnakes, so we're a long damned ways from *being* ready.

Blues

 

[JimTh]

No, I think I could, I just don't know what zip code to start with, so many you know.

Why not just start with the name of the last one you shot!

 

[Stengun]

Howdy,

Of course the USDA needs a SWAT team with fully auto weapons and helicopters and such. Everyone knows you can't inspect a packing plant if you're not packing, rampaging animals could stampede and escape! Take the tomato harvest for instance, what if a food fight broke out with an unlimited supply of tomato's?? There could be multiple cases of tomato trauma to the workers. The Department of Agriculture must be prepared to respond with vigor and decisiveness to such acts of animal and plant based anarchy.

Time to add you to the ID Ten T List. If you've never been in the military it means idiot.

USDA inspectors inspect produce from Mexico and routinely find HUGE amounts of drugs, especially cocaine and Meth and do need to be able to protect themselves from the drug cartels.

The USDA also participate in raids on meat packing plants that employee +100 illegal aliens and it makes it easier to arrest them if they are armed.

Paul

 

[chilipeppernorm]

Howdy,



Time to add you to the ID Ten T List. If you've never been in the military it means idiot.

USDA inspectors inspect produce from Mexico and routinely find HUGE amounts of drugs, especially cocaine and Meth and do need to be able to protect themselves from the drug cartels.

The USDA also participate in raids on meat packing plants that employee +100 illegal aliens and it makes it easier to arrest them if they are armed.

Paul

Hi Paul, nice way to introduce yourself. Nobody including me is suggesting anyone engaging in a hazardous job be denied a means of protection, but then that isn't the topic of this thread. I made an earlier statement that perhaps you missed so here it is:

"My sincere condolences to the fallen officers families, friends, and peers including you if you knew them. That being said, I believe the original intent and thrust of this post was around an ever expanding alphabet soup of federal agencies with redundant and overlapping responsibilities clamoring for a law enforcement or paramilitary arm of each said agency. The primary role of the USDA is providing for a safe and healthy food supply for Americans, primarily accomplished through inspections and monitoring and enforced by fines or levies up to and including halting production or closing facilities and prosecuting violators. I've not heard of these tasks requiring armed agents or soldiers. I don't know to what purpose the fallen officers were alone in the woods, chasing poachers, drug growers or labs, or what agency tasked them to do so. It sounds a lot like the role game wardens face daily. Regardless, tragic as their loss is, it has nothing whatsoever to do with the topic we're posting on."

Cartels ship drugs in every conceivable product and shipment method. Are there armed cartel members buried in the produce waiting to shoot the vegetable guy? Has there been such cases? Presuming the inspection is at the border you have Border Agents, DEA, and local law enforcement all of whom one would expect to be involved in known drug trafficking routes and methods. We can give the USDA Inspector a weapon and a vest, and will he or she get the proper and continuous training in individual and group combat tactics to not be a hazard to themselves and teammates in this highly anticipated cartel gun battle? Or should we separate the drug interdiction efforts from the vegetable inspection which can be performed anytime before transport to market in a safe environment for the inspector?

The same principle holds for meat packing plant raids. Illegal aliens working at the plant in whatever number is an issue for ICE and various appropriate law enforcement, the USDA meat inspector has no damn business or role in cuffing up illegal mexicans. His or her role is solely to establish the quality and safety of the meat and the processing facility cleanliness and practices, and you don't need a gun and a vest for that.

The issue remains unchanged, and that issue is a growing number of governmental departments and agencies arming themselves under a false flag of necessity to then interact and bully American citizens under the color of authority on issues and principles completely out of their prevue and in violation of our Constitutional rights. If recognition and concern over this ever increasing trend and encroachment of our freedoms makes me an idiot, then so be it.