I don't understand what farmers are doing out there!!!!

[TripleR]

My wife worked for USDA and occasionally armed agents came into her facility, but not very often.

Those under USDA are:
U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations
Office of Inspector General

 

[MossRoad]

Well, better go ahead and move this to the Politics forum before it gets nasty. There seems to be one fact:

Both the EPA and IRS currently have armed federal agents, and recent events involving the BLM in Nevada showed that even the Bureau of Land Management possesses a small army of long-range snipers and heavily armed paramilitary operators.

Now the U.S. Department of Agriculture is joining the militarization bandwagon, publishing a solicitation (# USDAOIGWEA-5-7-14) requesting "submachine guns, .40 Cal. S&W" with "Tritium night sights for front and rear, rails for attachment of flashlight (front under fore grip) and scope (top rear), stock-collapsible or folding, magazine - 30 rd."

Beyond the above, all there is are biased, opinionated and politicized commentary.

Me, I can easily postulate the need...we see an explosion of wild hogs and coyotes here in Texas, elsewhere, too. A coyote killed a baby calf of mine just a week ago. It would seem reasonable to me to provide arms to USDA workers who are very likely to run across these in the field. All farmers and ranchers I know of consider these vermin needing massive population reduction. Clearly, they cause huge economic loss annually. The caliber is good for dropping tough animals such a 400 lb hog and tritium sights are excellent for low light/night conditions. You gotta take out these critters when you see them, and, in Texas anyway, there are no restrictions regarding time of day, week, month or method for taking them. Often hogs and coyotes run in bunches and high rate of fire is needed to drop several before they disappear. This is my postulation (conspiracy theory), and I'm sticking to it because it provides a legitimate ag based reason for the fire arms.

My best guess is that the guns are destined for the law enforcement officers of the USDA's Forest Service.



More than likely, the LE&I folks are focusing on "farmers" who are growing "wacky tobaccy" on NFS lands.

Steve

Another reasonable explanation. The Wildlife Services (WS) division of the USDA's APHIS has programs dealing with feral swine and rabies in wildlife -- USDA APHIS | Wildlife Damage.

It would be reasonable for the WS staff to be armed for self-protection while working in the field.

Steve

My wife worked for USDA and occasionally armed agents came into her facility, but not very often.

Those under USDA are:
U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations
Office of Inspector General

Now why would you guys go and take all the fun out of a conspiracy thread??? Party poopers. :confused3:

 

[k0ua]

A .40 S&W submachine gun would be just about the last firearm I would want to use to take out feral hogs. No where near enough foot pounds of energy.
A .223 AR15 platform is very marginal for feral swine, You need something larger.

A .40 S&W caliber submachine gun is ideal for neutralizing humans at short ranges.

Now before you think I am some black helicopter conspiracy nut, do your research. I am not making a point about what the subguns are for, I am making a point about what the subguns are NOT for, and that is they are NOT for killing feral swine. Again do your own research, or ask someone (like Me) that knows weapons and calibers, whether they would choose to go hog hunting with a .40 S&W. The answer will be NO.

 

[nc redneck]

If you are going to " Tax and Spend " anyway you want regardless of taxpayers thoughts and needs. You better make sure you have the firepower to keep them scared and doing as told.
Anyone ever wonder why there local police department needs 50 Cal sniper rifles and mine proof assault vehicles ??????
Kind of makes you think of a few hundred scared farmers standing up to the Red Coats in our history.

 

[bcp]

They may know more about pallets in the field than we do.



Bruce

 

[Jstpssng]

They may know more about pallets in the field than we do.



Bruce

Do you mean "one(pallet) if by land, two (pallets leaning against each other) if by sea?"

 

[wolftree]

****** armed many of his goverenment agencies as well, all while removing weapons from the civilian population.

 

[Citydude]

I have to ask, which branch of government would take guns away from America? The legislative, executive or judicial?

 

[k0ua]

I have to ask, which branch of government would take guns away from America? The legislative, executive or judicial?

The executive.

 

[texasjohn]

Moss, I tried...but, it's a bout to fully enter the tag team pewlitical arena:smiley_aafz:

Lord knows I tried! I hear the roar of the crowd following the spoor of this thread.