disarm federal agencies that are not military, what an idea

[rockhound]

http://drudgegae.iavian.net/r?hop=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/30/bundy-aftermath-utah-lawmaker-moves-to-disarm-blm-/
www.washingtontimes.com
Bundy aftermath: Utah lawmaker moves to disarm BLM, IRS, says ‘They’re not paramilitary units’
Rep. Chris Stewart (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/chris-stewart/) of Utah, concerned about the armed agents that surrounded Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/cliven-bundy/)’s property, introduced a bill to cut funding for any “paramilitary units” that work for the Bureau of Land Management (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/bureau-of-land-management/), the Internal Revenue Service (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/internal-revenue-service/) and other federal regulatory agencies.
“There are lots of people who are really concerned when the BLM (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/bureau-of-land-management/) shows up with its own SWAT team,” he said on the House floor on Tuesday, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. “They’re regulatory agencies. They’re not paramilitary units, and I think that concerns a lot of us.”

[blacklabel]

They'll take the funding and direct it towards building a stronger DHS. This is a no win situation.

[sniper7]

I'd say it would be a good thing. Also cutting back on budgets for APCs for a sheriffs department. The national guard has plenty of capable vehicles to make it into disaster areas.
while were at it we should eliminate wasteful spending on entitlement programs. And reform the IRS to a more streamlined operation that people can make sense of.


wait....yep, none of that will happen.

[zzzippper]

I knew this was a problem when I saw a National Park Service humvee at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Even they had no use for it and were using it to block a sidewalk. But if a kid was seen with a squirt gun they would have leapt into action.

[rockhound]

there is no reason for these groups to be armed.

[Colorado Osprey]

Or... Like after hurricane Katrina, hire Blackwater and use private armed security to break all kinds of people's rights. That way big brother has no involvement and the contractor is above the law with authority to use deadly force and ability to deny involvement of unauthorized use of force.

The real question is... if you take up arms against a private security firm breaking your Constitutional Rights, are you liable for their death?

[WETWRKS]

Or... Like after hurricane Katrina, hire Blackwater and use private armed security to break all kinds of people's rights. That way big brother has no involvement and the contractor is above the law with authority to use deadly force and ability to deny involvement of unauthorized use of force.

The real question is... if you take up arms against a private security firm breaking your Constitutional Rights, are you liable for their death?

Liable...or can you be charged with a crime...two different things.

[Hound]

The idea has always been that if/when a gov agency is not able to handle a situation the National Guard was who was called at the behest of the Govenor of the state. Kent state was an example of this. That all changed with Waco.

[kidicarus13]

These agencies will not be disarmed... next topic.

[Aloha_Shooter]

I don't think BLM or HHS should have SWAT teams but I also disagree with the idea of disarming all agencies. Some (repeat, some) of the Park Service and Border Patrol have very difficult situations and should have arms for personal defense or varmint control. IRS should have to go through the local sheriff's department for armed enforcement IMO although I'm not sure what they'd do in a case like Al Capone's Chicago. Then again, the only things I like about Chicago are the pizza, hot dogs, and Sean Connery's line in The Untouchables.

[osok-308]

there is no reason for these groups to be armed.
This ^^^^ however it won't happen.

[rockhound]

I don't think BLM or HHS should have SWAT teams but I also disagree with the idea of disarming all agencies. Some (repeat, some) of the Park Service and Border Patrol have very difficult situations and should have arms for personal defense or varmint control. IRS should have to go through the local sheriff's department for armed enforcement IMO although I'm not sure what they'd do in a case like Al Capone's Chicago. Then again, the only things I like about Chicago are the pizza, hot dogs, and Sean Connery's line in The Untouchables.

i believe agencies that have law enforcement duties such as the border patrol or park rangers are included in the plan.

[BPTactical]

These agencies will not be disarmed... next topic.

Yup, nothing to see here.
Move along and pick up that can citizen.

[cstone]

Wouldn't it be better if all citizens who want to be armed were armed? If the government can subsidize food, healthcare, retirement, cell phones, etc... it would be helpful if they would provide tax breaks for the purchase and maintenance of firearms and ammunition by law abiding citizens.

I have a dream!

[lowbeyond]

there is no reason for these groups to be armed.Yea there is. The reason is clear, if you think about it....

[HoneyBadger]

Wouldn't it be better if all citizens who want to be armed were armed? If the government can subsidize food, healthcare, retirement, cell phones, etc... it would be helpful if they would provide tax breaks for the purchase and maintenance of firearms and ammunition by law abiding citizens.

I have a dream!
I'd vote for that.

[.455_Hunter]

There are PLENTY of non-military Federal employees that need to be armed.

BAD IDEA- BLM SWAT Team
GOOD IDEA- BATF Inspector with a sidearm.
BAD IDEA- IRS Strike Force with full-auto M4s.
GOOD IDEA- Postal Fraud Inspector with a sidearm.

Why would you deny them the right to self defense when you cherish it for private citizens?

[blacklabel]

You missed the "special units" part of the article, didn't you?

[.455_Hunter]

You missed the "special units" part of the article, didn't you?

No. There are many people question arming even the most obvious of federal personnel.

[ZERO THEORY]

Yup, nothing to see here.
Move along and pick up that can citizen.

Awesome Half Life 2 reference.

[blacklabel]

No. There are many people question arming even the most obvious of federal personnel.

That's because it's not just your sidearm. Its now a shotgun, an M4, plate carrier while riding on an MRAP.

[bobbyfairbanks]

You can't just disarm but remove there law enforcement ability. The Feds need to go through the sheriff plane and simple. Any one should be able to carry a pistol but like was said above a paramilitary federal law enforcement has to go

[BushMasterBoy]

Over 5000 civilians killed by police since 9/11/2001...why stop when you are winning? Google it if you think I am making this up...

[cstone]

Over 5000 civilians killed by police since 9/11/2001...why stop when you are winning? Google it if you think I am making this up...

That statistic is about as meaningless as however many muslims have been killed by the American military since 2002. Are you really suggesting that the police are out killing people at will and there is no oversight, consequence, or reason for many of these deaths?

[BushMasterBoy]

Lemme guess...you are a cop or a ex cop?

[bobbyfairbanks]

[Pop]

[cstone]

Lemme guess...you are a cop or a ex cop?

Yes. Lemme guess, you don't like cops.

The point is, most of gun owners don't like misuse of misleading statistics, such as X number of people were killed with firearms every year but that number includes more than 50% suicides. The statistic you quoted is meaningless without context. Keep tossing those types of evidence to support your argument and expect to be called on it.

[kidicarus13]

Doctors have killed more people since 2001. Another poor statistic.

[bobbyfairbanks]

Back on track we are not talking about state or local LEO. We are talking about federalies.

[BushMasterBoy]

The DOJ keep very careful statistics of law enforcement killed on duty. They DO NOT keep any statistics on people killed by law enforcement. Isn't that interesting?