Why Is The Federal Government Buying Up So Much Ammo?

According to Andrew Malcolm, writing for Investor’s Business Daily, the Department of Homeland Security has enough ammo for a 24-year Iraq war, and they’re still buying more.

In a puzzling, unexplained development, the Obama administration has been buying and storing vast amounts of ammunition in recent months, with the Department of Homeland Security just placing another order for an additional 21.6 million rounds.

Several other agencies of the federal government also began buying large quantities of bullets last year. The Social Security Administration, for instance, not normally considered on the frontlines of anything but dealing with seniors, explained that its purchase of millions of rounds was for special agents’ required quarterly weapons qualifications. They must be pretty poor shots.

But DHS has been silent about its need for numerous orders of bullets in the multiple millions. Indeed, Examiner writer Ryan Keller points out Janet Napolitano’s agency illegally redacted information from some ammunition solicitation forms following media inquiries.

According to one estimate, just since last spring DHS has stockpiled more than 1.6 billion bullets, mainly .40 caliber and 9mm. That’s sufficient firepower to shoot every American about five times. Including illegal immigrants.

To provide some perspective, experts estimate that at the peak of the Iraq war American troops were firing around 5.5 million rounds per month. At that rate, DHS is armed now for a 24-year Iraq war.

A lot of conspiracy theories are being touted in response to this seemingly excessive stockpiling, most having to do with the government declaring martial law, etc., etc.

But I think the explanation is much simpler. I think the Obama administration is just running up the price of ammo. These massive government buys are taking place amid, may very well be causing, a national ammo shortage. I think the goal of anti-gun activists, up to and including President Obama, is to make gun purchases, ownership and use harder in every way they can.

Buying up all the ammo is just part of the strategy.