Why Is the USDA Buying Submachine Guns?

[didymus]

Modern Farmer:

Why Is the USDA Buying Submachine Guns?

According to a USDA press rep, the guns are necessary for self-protection. “OIG Special Agents regularly conduct undercover operations and surveillance. The types of investigations conducted by OIG Special Agents include criminal activities such as fraud in farm programs; significant thefts of Government property or funds; bribery and extortion; smuggling; and assaults and threats of violence against USDA employees engaged in their official duties,” wrote a USDA spokesperson.

Those seem like legitimate enforcement activities, but still: submachine guns? Not everyone believes the USDA being armed to the teeth is justifiable. On Aug. 2, the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund launched a petition to support a bill that would curb the ability of agencies like the USDA to arm themselves. They see it as overkill and scare tactics, especially for smaller producers.

“What we have seen happen, with the FDA especially, is they have come onto small farms, raw milk producers, and raided the heck out of them with armed agents present,” says Liz Reitzig, co-founder of the Farm Food Freedom Coalition. “Do we really want to have our federal regulatory agencies bring submachine guns onto these family farms with children?”

The Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund petition focuses on two now infamous blows to the raw milk community – the 2010 and 2011 raids on Rawsome Food Club in Venice, California. These raids were carried out by armed federal agents, from the FDA and other agencies.

 

[chero23]

Huh? Good question,

 

[whatsmyname]

It’s very important to the USDA to keep people from producing, buying or drinking raw milk so they use these types of guns in their raids on small Amish farms. It does seem a wee bit of an overreaction, but it’s been going on for quite a few years now.

 

[Petaro]

They do it because they can. This is needed to fight against any conspiracy, engendered by their herd mentality, for a stampede by Bulls; Cowboys or other football teams against the NFL. A wise precaution given the growing criminal element in this area.
I personally represent Armed Australians against Sport in General, a growing sub-culture of the obese, arm-chaired experts against this insidious cultural disease spreading through our youth.

It is good to see once peace-loving National Authorities realizing this threat on its home soil and arming itself accordingly. Soon it will be strong enough to take on the mushroom farmers of the left and the Turkeys in the Congress as well as the Hogs in the Public Purse. Machine guns? They will eventually need howitzers to take on the entire zoo.
Good start, pass me a little blue one, I think I see kangaroos in the attic.

 

[Coatimundi]

Huh? Good question,

The article mentions that the guns are for the Office of Inspector General. Here is how its website describes its Investigative Division:

The types of investigations conducted by OIG Special Agents involve criminal activities such as frauds in subsidy, price support, benefits, and insurance programs; significant thefts of Government property or funds; bribery; extortion; smuggling; and assaults on employees. Investigations involving criminal activity that affects the health and safety of the public, such as meat packers who knowingly sell hazardous food products and individuals who tamper with food regulated by USDA, are also high-profile investigative priorities. In addition, OIG Special Agents are poised to provide emergency law enforcement response to USDA declared emergencies and suspected incidents of terrorism affecting USDA regulated industries, as well as USDA programs, operations, personnel, and installations, in coordination with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, as appropriate.
usda.gov/oig/invest.htm

Food safety has been a concern in the US, with an understanding that terrorists might try to contaminate what Americans eat. The OIG branch of the USDA would act in cooperation with law enforcement agencies (whether federal, state or local) in conducting raids. I believe this is the rationale for the USDA gun purchase.