Why does Social Security need 174,000 bullets?

[longnecker]

WASHINGTON (AP) — It didn't take long for the Internet to start buzzing with conspiracy theories after the Social Security Administration posted a notice that it was purchasing 174,000 hollow-point bullets.
Why is the agency that provides benefits to retirees, disabled workers, widows and children stockpiling ammunition? Whom are they going to use it on?
"It's not outlandish to suggest that the Social Security Administration is purchasing the bullets as part of preparations for civil unrest," the website Infowars.com said.
Another website, The Daily Caller, said the bullets must be for use against American citizens, "since the SSA has never been used overseas to help foreign countries maintain control of their citizens."
The clamor became such a distraction for the agency that it dedicated a website to explaining the purchase. The explanation, it turns out, isn't as tantalizing as an arms buildup to defend against unruly senior citizens.
The bullets are for Social Security's office of inspector general, which has about 295 agents who investigate Social Security fraud and other crimes, said Jonathan L. Lasher, the agency's assistant IG for external relations.
The agents carry guns and make arrests — 589 last year, Lasher said. They execute search warrants and respond to threats against Social Security offices, employees and customers.
Agents carry .357 caliber pistols, Lasher said. The bullets, which add up to about 590 per agent, are for the upcoming fiscal year. Most will be expended on the firing range.
Some bloggers have taken issue with the type of ammunition the agency is buying, questioning why agents need hollow-point bullets. Hollow-points are known for causing more tissue damage than other bullets when they hit a person because they expand when they enter the body.
The bullets, however, are standard issue for many law enforcement agencies, Lasher said, a fact confirmed by the directors of two law enforcement training centers.
"For practice ammunition, they do not have to be hollow-points, but hollow-points are the normal police round used for duty ammunition due to their ability to stop when they hit an object as opposed to going through it and striking more objects," said William J. Muldoon, president of the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training.
http://www.mediacomtoday.com/news/re...org%3E&ps=1018

[EpicWin]

Sounds like the early retirement plan the USPS is offering it's current postal workers.

[max1]

I have many guns and I target practice quite a bit, I have never used a hollow point for target practice.I have a pistol loaded and in my bed stand I use an accelerator bullets in them. Accelerators are like a hollow point but are designed to stay together and cause maxium damage to soft tissue. Plus they slow down a lot if the hit drywall.....in the off chance I miss I dont want to hit someone else. I dont know why they would need them for target practice.

[max1]

I have many guns and I target practice quite a bit, I have never used a hollow point for target practice.I have a pistol loaded and in my bed stand I use an accelerator bullets in them. Accelerators are like a hollow point but are designed to stay together and cause maxium damage to soft tissue. Plus they slow down a lot if the hit drywall.....in the off chance I miss I dont want to hit someone else. I dont know why they would need them for target practice. Thats 49 clips a piece.......wow

[Beau Stockard]

From the article,

The bullets, however, are standard issue for many law enforcement agencies, Lasher said, a fact confirmed by the directors of two law enforcement training centers

Max,

I dont know why they would need them for target practice. Thats 49 clips a piece.......wow

So, Max, I am assuming that you are advocating some form of limited gun control on regulating the kind of ammo that should be used for Social Security officers' target practice training? I assume then that you don't believe that there will be a 'slippery slope' that leads to tighter, more restrictive laws on private citizens' use of ammo or guns.

[EpicWin]

From the article, Max, So, Max, I am assuming that you are advocating some form of limited gun control on regulating the kind of ammo that should be used for Social Security officers' target practice training? I assume then that you don't believe that there will be a 'slippery slope' that leads to tighter, more restrictive laws on private citizens' use of ammo or guns.

Target loads are cheaper and are meant to shot at a range. Hollow points do cost more than target loads. Therefore, it would be more cost effective to purchase target loads versus hollow points.

[max1]

Not only that epic, they are not accurate beyond a certain range so it makes no sense to even use them for target practice. So don't try to twist anything I say there Beau, I am merely pointing out that not many people use them to practice so I'm not advocating anything except the truth. So let me say in closing that if a SOCIAL SECURITY employee needs 49 clips of hollow point ammo to do his/her job then who am I to stand in the way of a SOCIAL SECURITY employees safety.

[Bellicose]

If they need 49 clips of ammo to do their job, hell that place is not very safe.