USDA - Submachine Guns & Body Armor

**Irish** · 05-15-14, 09:51

I can't fathom why the USDA would need sub-guns. Can anyone else speculate on why they'd need these?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, located in Washington, DC, pursuant to the authority of FAR Part 13, has a requirement for the commerical acquisition of submachine guns, .40 Cal. S&W, ambidextrous safety, semi-automatic or 2 shot burts trigger group, Tritium night sights for front and rear, rails for attachment of flashlight (front under fore grip) and scope (top rear), stock-collapsilbe or folding, magazine - 30 rd. capacity, sling, light weight, and oversized trigger guard for gloved operation.

**Big A** · 05-15-14, 10:14

To raid meat packing plants that cater to the black market for horse meat?

Because every other fed agency has cool guys with cool guy gear and they wanna be just like them? You know, when in Rome and all that...

**Chameleox** · 05-15-14, 10:34

From the USDA- OIG website:
"Pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978 and Section 1337 of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-98), OIG Investigations is the law enforcement arm of the Department, with Department-wide investigative jurisdiction. OIG Special Agents conduct investigations of significant criminal activities involving USDA programs, operations, and personnel, and are authorized to make arrests, execute warrants, and carry firearms. 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."
/end

While it's a small department with a fairly narrowly defined mission (investigating fraud and waste WRT government agricultural interests), a lot of unsavory types fall into the investigations above. A lot of money involved in some of these, too. Also keep in mind that a visit to a large farm or facility for an investigation can turn into all sorts of other weirdness. They also deal with internal issues within USDA, which, as with any other large organization, could have a propensity for workplace violence or security issues with their buildings.

Not saying I support it or not, just trying to rationalize it from their side. Also, as was mentioned on another forum, anyone else notice how their proposal makes the Sig MPX or the UMP almost a shoe-in?

**Eurodriver** · 05-15-14, 10:42

Originally Posted by Chameleox

Also, as was mentioned on another forum, anyone else notice how their proposal makes the Sig MPX or the UMP almost a shoe-in?

Agreed, it's kind of amusing.

**austinN4** · 05-15-14, 11:08

Originally Posted by Irish

Can anyone else speculate on why they'd need these?

To kill mad cows?

**ST911** · 05-15-14, 11:13

USDA includes the Forest Service, an agency with wide responsibility and terrain to police.

(And a pre-emptive note of caution: After the locks on other threads about federal enforcement actions, their gun and ammo buying, militarization of police, etc, the hammer will fall swiftly on hijinx in this thread. Post accordingly.)

**montanadave** · 05-15-14, 11:26

Originally Posted by Skintop911

USDA includes the Forest Service, an agency with wide responsibility and terrain to police.

(And a pre-emptive note of caution: After the locks on other threads about federal enforcement actions, their gun and ammo buying, militarization of police, etc, the hammer will fall swiftly on hijinx in this thread. Post accordingly.)

And they deal with a fair amount of dope-smuggling along the Canadian border in Washington, Idaho, and Montana.