Opinion: Arming the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with Night-Vision Equipment and Assault Rifles is NOT What We Should Be Doing with Taxpayer Dollars

If you’re just now arriving on scene here. . . I don’t trust the government. Never have, never will. If someone tells me (even in a roundabout way) that they trust the government, then I don’t trust them either.

I came across an article from the Rutherford Institute that highlights where some of our tax dollars are going (and have been going for a while). Boy, is it a doozy. . .

I’d recommend that you read the whole thing for yourselves. It’s an interesting read even if you don’t agree with all of it, but I’ll give you the low-down:

The IRS has stockpiled 4,500 guns and five million rounds of ammunition in recent years, including 621 shotguns, 539 long-barrel rifles and 15 submachine guns.

The Veterans Administration (VA) purchased 11 million rounds of ammunition (equivalent to 2,800 rounds for each of their officers), along with camouflage uniforms, riot helmets and shields, specialized image enhancement devices and tactical lighting.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) acquired 4 million rounds of ammunition, in addition to 1,300 guns, including five submachine guns and 189 automatic firearms for its Office of Inspector General.

According to an in-depth report on “The Militarization of the U.S. Executive Agencies,” the Social Security Administration secured 800,000 rounds of ammunition for their special agents, as well as armor and guns.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) owns 600 guns. And the Smithsonian now employs 620-armed “special agents.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, the number of federal agents armed with guns, ammunition and military-style equipment, authorized to make arrests, and trained in military tactics has nearly tripled over the past several decades.

There are now more bureaucratic (non-military) government agents armed with weapons than U.S. Marines.

While Americans have to jump through an increasing number of hoops in order to own a gun, federal agencies have been placing orders for hundreds of millions of rounds of hollow point bullets and military gear. Among the agencies being supplied with night-vision equipment, body armor, hollow-point bullets, shotguns, drones, assault rifles and LP gas cannons are the Smithsonian, U.S. Mint, Health and Human Services, IRS, FDA, Small Business Administration, Social Security Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Education Department, Energy Department, Bureau of Engraving and Printing and an assortment of public universities.

For what reason would Smithsonian “special agents” need assault rifles and night-vision equipment?

In all seriousness. . . am I the crazy one, or does this sound batsh*t to other people too?

Although… it makes more sense when we consider the current political climate. It’s never been about “we.” It’s about “you.”

You see, it’s not that “we” (government personnel included) should surrender our guns to protect our fellow man and live like everything’s all sunshine and rainbows. It’s that “you,” the law-abiding American, don’t need a gun. But what’s the first thing the government does with our tax dollars? Protect themselves. . . with guns.

People like Gumby O’Rourke want to confiscate your AR-15s because they’re unnecessary. Meanwhile, they’re arming government pencil pushers at the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Think about that for a second.

The hypocrisy doesn’t restrict itself to guns and ammo, of course. We don’t need a wall on the southern border, but Joe needs one around his beach house, and Patrisse Cullors needs one around the perimeter of her L.A. mansion. I could go on, but, “Do as I say, and not as I do,” I suppose. . .

The fact that we even need to have a conversation as to whether or not U.S. Mint workers need drones and LP gas cannons is ludicrous.

I’m not going to go into details on the historical significance of actions like these. If you’re smart enough to be here reading this, then I’m certain you’re already well aware of that.

My heart aches for where we are right now. Ideally, we’re better than this. Whether or not we can realistically right the ship is, unfortunately, a different story.