| Story Views | |
| Now: | |
| Last Hour: | |
| Last 24 Hours: | |
| Total: | |
Social Security Responds To Bulk Ammo Purchase & Makes Case For Armed Citizens
In light of recent articles about ammunition purchases by the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration’s own purchase of 174,000 .357 Sig 125 grain hollow point bullets, the SSA decided to come forward with an explanation for why they were purchasing the ammunition.
The SSA’s Office of the Inspector General addressed the solicitation in a blog post on the agency’s website with the title, “Beyond the Numbers“:
As we said in a recent post, our office has criminal investigators, or special agents, who are responsible for investigating violations of the laws that govern SSA’s programs. Currently, about 295 special agents and supervisory special agents work in 66 offices across the United States. These investigators have full law enforcement authority, including executing search warrants and making arrests.
Our investigators are similar to your State or local police officers. They use traditional investigative techniques, and they are armed when on official duty.
Media reports expressed concerns over the type of ammunition ordered. In fact, this type of ammunition is standard issue for many law enforcement agencies. OIG’s special agents use this ammunition during their mandatory quarterly firearms qualifications and other training sessions, to ensure agent and public safety. Additionally, the ammunition our agents use is the same type used at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Our special agents need to be armed and trained appropriately. They not only investigate allegations of Social Security fraud, but they also are called to respond to threats against Social Security offices, employees, and customers.
