Friday, August 17, 2012

Social Security Administration's Disturbing Answers On Ammo Stockpiling Simply Raise More Questions

After catching wind of the speculation surrounding its recent request to purchase 174,000 rounds of hollow-point bullets, the Social Security Administration (SSA) apparently concluded that it had some explaining to do and immediately launched a blog to accomplish that goal. The only problem with the agency's explanations however, are that they raise more questions than they answer.

On a new blog, “Beyond the Numbers,” set up on the SSA Inspector General's website, the SSA attempts to provide greater "transparency," "accountability" and concrete answers to the questions raised by the recent ammo request.

To put it in the SSA's own words: "[W]e thought it would be appropriate to address recent media reports regarding the organization’s purchase of ammunition for our special agents’ duty weapons.'”

The SSA claims the hollow-point bullets are needed to supply the "295 special agents who work in 66 offices across the United States," and the agency further explains that these special agents "have full law enforcement authority, including executing search warrants and making arrests” and these investigators "are similar to your State or local police officers."

And why would the SSA need 295 special agents in 66 offices across the country?

Other statements on the Beyond the Numbers blog may provide an unsettling answer: “Our special agents need to be armed and trained appropriately.” ... “They not only investigate allegations of Social Security fraud, but they also are called to respond to threats against Social Security offices, employees, and customers,” and the blog goes on to state: “Employee and visitor safety is the highest priority..."

174,000 rounds for 66 offices comes to over 2,600 hollow-point rounds at each office or an allotment of 600 hollow-point rounds for each "special agent."

That's still a lot of ammo.  It's not enough to start a war but it's certainly more than enough for an agency that sends out retirement and disability checks. 

Unfortunately for the SSA, their "explanation" only serves to confirm and fuel what was only speculation a couple of days ago when the story of the ammo purchase broke.

Is the SSA anticipating a large number of incidents of unrest and violence at Social Security Offices across the country... and, if so, why?

Posted By: Chris Carmouche