USDA Choice: 326,000 rounds of ammo?
After Homeland Security’s recent order to 450 million rounds of ammunition got plenty of alternative news coverage in the last couple of weeks, it now comes out that other government agencies have placed massive orders for bullets as well.
But why in the world does the USDA need 326,000 bullets? And in several calibers, for both rifle and handgun? Are meat inspections that dangerous? Or are they targeting a different herd?
“Inspected.” “For Wholesomeness.”
On the DHS side, RT.com comments,
The DHS has signed off on an “indefinite delivery” from defense contractors ATK that will include, for some reason, nearly 500 million high-power ammunition for .40 caliber firearms. The department has yet to discuss why they are ordering such a massive bevy of bullets for an agency that has limited need domestically for doing harm, but they say they expect to continue receiving shipments from the manufacturer for the next five years, during which they plan to blow through enough ammunition to execute more people than there are in the entire United States.
The FBI gets its share, too:
And of course the FBI needs about 100,000,000 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition for law enforcement needs. It posted the request November 15, 2011 and the order will be awarded this week. Oddly, it states a fixed price indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity type contract; however the pricing requirements go up to 100,000,000 rounds.