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

[kwin]

USDA goes paramilitary USDA goes paramilitary: Organic certifier buying submachine guns with night sites, 30-round magazines - NaturalNews.com

 

[bcp]

I've heard of bad farmers, but...

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportu...01217d03b0354e1e18b69aa7bad&tab=core&_cview=0

Bruce

 

[RDrancher]

If that don't make your skin crawl...you ain't paying attention.

 

[bcp]

USDA is just trying to catch up to the firepower of the Department of Education:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportu...f9f3fa2fe18a83d1c3dee0039b2&tab=core&_cview=0

Bruce

 

[texasjohn]

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.

 

[smstonypoint]

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

Uniformed Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) enforce Federal laws and regulations governing National Forest Lands and resources. As part of that mission LEOs carry firearms, defensive equipment, make arrests, execute search warrants, complete reports and testify in court.

Special Agents are criminal investigators who plan and conduct investigations concerning possible violations of criminal and administrative provisions of the Forest Service and other statues under the U.S. Code. Special agents are normally plain clothes officers who carry concealed firearms, and other defensive equipment, make arrests, carry out complex criminal investigations, present cases for prosecution to U.S. Attorneys, and prepare investigative reports.

The basic mission of Law Enforcement and Investigations (LE&I) is public and employee safety, resource protection, enforcement of U.S. Criminal Law, and to provide enforcement expertise to other agency managers. The National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986, as amended in 1988, and Title 16 of the United States Code (U.S.C.), provides authorization to the Forest Service (FS) for law enforcement activities relating to the Controlled Substance Act and Title 21 U.S.C. Subsequently, officers of the FS are charged with performing drug enforcement duties on National Forest System (NFS) lands or in areas with a nexus to NFS lands.

What We Do - LEI | USDA Forest Service

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

Steve

 

[smstonypoint]

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.

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

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Someone already suggested this should go to politics.

All I'll say is - our government has transitioned itself into a police state. Tyranny is the new norm.

 

[Tor Arne]

I guess in case of zombie chickens decides to attack

 

[300UGUY]

I guess in case of zombie chickens decides to attack

Dude!! Zombies!! Any thread with zombies is cool!!!