There are dozens of articles hyping government purchases of ammunition over the last nine months. After spending weeks researching this topic, this is a collection of commonly held myths that are based more on panic than fact.
With the recent release of a letter from the Department of Homeland Security to Senator Coburn, the numbers we calculated independently seem to corroborate the narrative coming from DHS. The concerns surrounding DHS stockpiling ammunition are nothing but more fear-mongering and largely unwarranted. For once, here are the facts to set the record straight:MYTH: DHS purchased 750 million rounds of several different types of ammunition in August 2012.
FACT: The DHS contract never stated 750 million rounds at any time. It is a five year contract with a maximum purchase of 70 million rounds over the life of the contract. Military Times recently addressed this issue as well.
MYTH: DHS purchased an unprecedented 450 million rounds of .40 S&W 180gr hollow point bullets in 2012.
FACT: This is a standard five year contract that follows a historical purchasing pattern of DHS. Furthermore, it is not an “unprecedented” purchase by DHS. In fact, it is not even a purchase by DHS but by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Starting in 2003, orders of 50 million and 225 million .40 S&W hollow point ammunition totaling 275 million rounds were purchased. After the expiration of the five year contracts in 2008, ICE purchased an additional 575 million rounds of .40 S&W hollow point ammunition with two separate orders (200 million and 375 million). Now, with the expiration of the 2008 contract, ICE has ordered a maximum of 450 million rounds over the next five years.
MYTH:
More @ Breitbart
I am calling BS on this article. Someone from another site said that because it is from Breitbart is reliable.
ReplyDeleteAs if Breitbart is any better than Alex Jones.
I haven't found anything from them that hasn't been factual, as far as I know. If you have, I would appreciate the information as well as anything that is erroneous in this ammo piece as I would be happy to post it. Thanks.
DeleteFact:
ReplyDeleteAmmunition purchased by DHS in 2000: 0 rounds
If they aren't buying it why is there none in the stores. I don't want to hear that everyone is stock piling it. Sure we would be if we could get any but there is none to buy and the dealers I know say their suppliers can't get any. I keep hearing folks say it was this way in '08. NO it wasn't. I was buying ammo in '08 and could get all I wanted. Occassionally I'd have to wait a week or so for delivery but the big dealers were taking orders and delivering when it came in. Many dealers are not even taking orders now.
ReplyDeleteEither the manufacturers arn't making any or someone (government or otherwise) is short circuiting the normal distribution system. When Walmart and Cabellas can't get it, it can't be gotten.
I'm wondering if US Customs is failing to approve the paperwork on import shipments and the only available production is from US plants? That could possibly explain it.
Check Lucky Gunner.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.luckygunner.com/
15 Senators demanded to know why DHS was purchasing so many bullets. The DHS refused to answer then claimed it was a cost saving measure. This was a couple of months after they claimed it was for training.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised Breitbart went to the dark side so soon.