Earlier this year, the USDA solicited submachine guns. The United States Department of Agriculture!
This is an agency tasked with regulating agriculture…
…and they asked for submachine guns.
My question: Why would an agency created to regulate farmers require automatic weapons?
They wouldn’t. They don’t.
From the Farm To Consumer Legal Defense Fund’s Action Alert:
If agency officials face a situation in which armed backup is truly called for, they can go through the proper procedures to have support from the Department of Justice. Having in-house SWAT teams and armed personnel makes it too easy to turn a non-hazardous situation into an armed raid that abuses the rights of our citizens. Bureaucrats aren’t hired or properly trained for dangerous law enforcement situations. Moreover, it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars to provide weapons to each individual agency.
(source)
What can you do about it?
Thankfully, after news of the USDA’s acquisition reached the public, Congressman Chris Stewart of Utah introduced the Regulatory Agency Demilitarization Act (HR 4934).
The bill does three things:
1. Repeals the arrest and firearm authority granted to Offices of Inspectors General by the 2002 Homeland Security Act.
2. Prohibits federal agencies, other than those traditionally tasked with enforcing federal law–such as the FBI and U.S. Marshals–from purchasing machine guns, grenades, and other weaponry regulated under the National Firearms Act.
3. Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to write a complete report detailing all federal agencies with specialized units that receive special tactical or military-style training and that respond to high-risk situations that fall outside the capabilities of regular law enforcement officers.
(You Should Click Here to Support HR 4934)
That link will take you to The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund’s site, where you can sign a petition that will automatically fax your representative in support of the bill.
Why We Need The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund
The Fund isn’t just about providing legal representation for members in court cases.
Nor do they simply offer free legal advice to members when overzealous government bureaucrats come knocking.
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund also tirelessly works to build grassroots activism to create the most favorable regulatory climate possible for small farmers and the consumers who want to support them.
That not only includes advising congressmen on bill language, but also supporting legislation through Action Alerts, social media outreach, and hosting online petitions like this one.
If you want to support your local farmers, one of the single best things you can do (besides buying directly from your farmers) is to offer financial support to the Fund.
Support The Fund, Win an Alaskan Adventure for Two
This month, I’m helping to promote an awesome raffle — the proceeds of which will go to the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund.
Why not support an amazing cause while also getting the chance to win a trip with me to Alaska?
(You Should Click Here to Buy Raffle Tickets)
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Oh Boy!
Why is the DOD in charge of the USDA school fresh fruit and vegetable program? http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/dod-fresh-fruit-and-vegetable-program
So the usda is doing dod things and the dod is doing usda things, Oi!
Whaaaaat?????!!!!!
We are definitely NOT being told a LOT of things!!
This administration is utterly out of control. They’ve bought more than 2 Billion expensive hollow point bullets (these REALLY kill) for regulatory agencies such as the USDA ,heads of departments, etc . but our soldiers in Iraq are not being given bullets and are thrown in jail if they shoot first etc. As mentioned earlier here the Dept of Defense is in charge of the USDA school fresh fruit and veg program, and among other oddities, we’ve sent the soldiers of the 101st airborne to Ebola stricken countries in Africa to build hospitals and to do so in a country where thousands have already died and our soldiers will not be issued proper protective clothing – – only a mask and gloves (which will not help) – – and, if they exhibit Ebola symptoms or get the disease they will be quarantined in Africa – – they will not be sent home – – but we are expediting visas for Africans with Ebola in those countries to come to this country at our taxpayers expense. Etc. Etc. Etc.
Excellent question!
They might actually need the guns. One function of the USDA is forestry. National forests are the location of illegal marajuana grow operations. Dealing with an illegal grow operation is absolutely a situation where officials should be armed.
Grow ops divert water and use illegal pesticides and herbicides that damage the environment and kill wildlife.
There are also plenty of plant poaching that occurs in national forests. It is serious business. Poachers do resort to violent force. USDA and forest service workers should be armed when dealing with some poachers.
Hi Mel,
I’m going to tell you what I told a reader who emailed me a nearly identical response to yours earlier today.
When enforcement situations arise (in the case of marijuana being grown in forests, or farmers/ranchers responding with armed threats), that’s what the Department of Justice is for.
If the USDA needs armed backup, they call in the DOJ and/or local law enforcement (i.e. agencies actually tasked with enforcing the laws/regulations that the USDA writes).
I’m a property owner, and when it’s time to evict someone, I call the sheriff. A deputy escorts me to the rental property. He is tasked with enforcing the law. It’s his job to make sure the renter leaves the property (peacefully or not). As the owner, it’s not my job, even though it’s my property. It’s simply my job to file the eviction notice at the appropriate time.
This delineation of roles is written into code to keep us all safe, and to protect the renter’s liberty (because it means that I can’t just show up armed and unannounced and kick people who’ve done nothing wrong out of their homes).
Likewise, the USDA makes rules and regulations, oversees compliance. But it’s not their job to enforce those rules.
The delineation of governmental roles is meant to keep everyone safe, and ensure their liberty.
When we start throwing that out the window and arming regulatory agencies (like the IRS or the USDA), we tread very dangerously.
I hope this makes sense.
Peace
I definitely feel like I’m living in “The Twilight Zone” these days, not remotely like the country I grew up in. But of course, if people ever decide to take control of our food back, I’m sure these idiots want to fight us.
They need them to raid farms selling raw milk, of course! Don’t you realize how dangerous that is?
Because they intend to use them.
I guess the former guns and combat boots they have been using for decades just aren’t tough enough against us health nuts any more.
Omg! Whaaat? I wonder how soon will they need nuclear weapons =)
This is so beyond disturbing. It IS like the twilight zone. I totally agree with that comment.
I’d love to have the full picture regarding this. I suspect that there is a lot we are not being told about their activities. I think this is the type of thing we can expect in the future, with so many rich & powerful people being put in an increasingly precarious position by the growing real food movement.
Keep digging all :)! Paleo and alternative health leaders beware!
Oh boy.
UNITED STATES THE CORPORATION:THE TRUTH FOX NEWS WILL NOT TELL YOU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgyztsj7O6M#t=2236
I definitely feel like I’m living in “The Twilight Zone” these days, not remotely like the country I grew up in. But of course, if people ever decide to take control of our food back, I’m sure these idiots want to fight us.