U.S. Dept of Agriculture to purchase .40S&W Submachine Guns

[VMI77]

Evidently the US Forestry Service is under the USDA. In light of the widlerness areas they go into and the potential to run across weirdoes, bears, and the random cartel, that puts it into perspective. Should have AR-15s though. This looks like a request tailored for a specific gun someone saw on COPS or the last SWAT demonstration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Sta ... st_Service" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Your assumption appears to be that the Feds are stupid. You don't buy machine guns to kill bears and weirdos, and the Feds are doing absolutely nothing about the cartels except keeping away from them as much as possible. This is all about that "civilian force" that's supposed to be just as powerful as the military.

[SQLGeek]

FWIW, the USDA has their own Office of Inspector General which is staffed with special agents. Within the OIG there is also a team involved with bioterrorism and investigations. This might be where those are going.

Here's a description of their mission:

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.

Source: http://www.usda.gov/oig/invest.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mojo84]

My question is, do all federal agencies really need their own armed "special agents"? Why not do the investigations and then turn it over to the FBI to handle the arrests and prosecution if warranted? What am I missing?

[The Marshal]

Exactly, Mojo...

What SQLGeek posted; shouldn't that be the job of the FBI?

Idiots, managed by morons, would be my guess.

[SQLGeek]

My understanding is that it used to be that way. The FBIs primary (but not only) mission since 9-11 has become counter-terrorism and the variety of agencies retain their own OIG to investigate criminal activity that is specific to their mission. It's a federated approach as opposed to a more centralized one.

Truthfully I see a lot of advantages to doing it this way as it allows more special agent specialization and probably increases the effectiveness of investigations overall.

[anygunanywhere]

My understanding is that it used to be that way. The FBIs primary (but not only) mission since 9-11 has become counter-terrorism and the variety of agencies retain their own OIG to investigate criminal activity that is specific to their mission. It's a federated approach as opposed to a more centralized one.

Truthfully I see a lot of advantages to doing it this way as it allows more special agent specialization and probably increases the effectiveness of investigations overall.

There are disadvantages to this too, and they are more menacing than what would happen if every government alphabet agency did not have their own militarized regime enforcement agents.

Anygunanywhere

[surprise_i'm_armed]

These to be used by USDA agents to prevent trespass of illegal hay seeds on government land.

Perhaps they are needed for when Monsanto needs the feds to enforce their lawsuits
against farmers using their genetically modified seeds, even if those seeds blew over
from the next guy's farm, or from grain trucks on their way to the silos.

SIA

[sjfcontrol]

My understanding is that it used to be that way. The FBIs primary (but not only) mission since 9-11 has become counter-terrorism and the variety of agencies retain their own OIG to investigate criminal activity that is specific to their mission. It's a federated approach as opposed to a more centralized one.

Truthfully I see a lot of advantages to doing it this way as it allows more special agent specialization and probably increases the effectiveness of investigations overall.

I thought counter terrorism was the purview of DHS?

[Cedar Park Dad]

My understanding is that it used to be that way. The FBIs primary (but not only) mission since 9-11 has become counter-terrorism and the variety of agencies retain their own OIG to investigate criminal activity that is specific to their mission. It's a federated approach as opposed to a more centralized one.

Truthfully I see a lot of advantages to doing it this way as it allows more special agent specialization and probably increases the effectiveness of investigations overall.

Why do they need submachine guns with night sights?

[mojo84]

A couple years ago I say with the regional head of the south Texas FBI region. We discussed their missions. Counter terrorism is definitely a big part of their responsibility but they still have responsibility for child pornography, banking fraud and they, organized crime, and many other areas of law enforcement and investigations. They also have agents that specialize. I don't see the need for each agency to maintain their own armed agents.

[puma guy]

These to be used by USDA agents to prevent trespass of undocumented hay seeds on government land.

Fixed it for you - aren't you up on the new language yet, Comrade?

Спасибо
(spasiba)

[mamabearCali]

It could be for a legitimate reason...I really don't care. The federal alphabet agencies have broken my trust repeatedly over the past ten years or so. I do not trust them and that they are buying such high powered items is disturbing and unacceptable.

[TexasGal]

Ditto. I could not agree more. As Han Solo would say; "I have a bad feeling about this".

[baron]

My question is, do all federal agencies really need their own armed "special agents"?

If the agencies don't have guns, citizens might stand up for their rights and we can't allow that in the ObamaNation.