Congressman: IRS agents training with semi-automatic rifles

[lostinblue 1,989]

Congressman: IRS agents training with semi-automatic rifles

UPDATED 4:23 PM EDT Jun 12, 2013

By Sean Muserallo

WYFF News 4

GREENVILLE, S.C. —South Carolina’s 3^rd Congressional District representative wants to know why he saw IRS agents training with powerful, semi-automatic rifles.

Republican Jeff Duncan said he made the discovery at a Maryland Federal Law Enforcement Training Center on May 23.

The congressman was touring the facility with Homeland Security officials as part of his investigation into the amount of ammunition purchases the agency conducts.

Duncan told News 4’s Sean Muserallo he saw about eight or nine shooters identified to him as IRS agents practicing at an indoor 100-yard range.

“While we were sitting there,” said Duncan, “the gentleman told them to sling their weapons and load a 30-round magazine into the AR-15s they were training with.”

Duncan said he was concerned about what he saw.

“Why do IRS law enforcement agents need standoff capability that you would have with a long rifle or with a weapon similar to an AR-15? They’re generally investigating tax evasion, fraud and money laundering. We think of the IRS as an audit agency more than doing the type of law enforcement where they have to use an AR-15.”

Duncan said the IRS has the resources of the federal government, including the FBI, if they come into a situation where they feel like they need a SWAT team.

According to IRS spokesman Mark Green out of the agency’s Atlanta field office, for security reasons, the IRS does not discuss their firearms training operations.

He did confirm agents will train at the FLETC in Maryland.

"The IRS uses standard firearms training common to all federal law enforcement agencies," said Green.

According to an IRS website, Criminal Investigation (CI) is the law enforcement branch of the IRS. Special agents combine law enforcement and accounting skills to investigate financial crimes. They are duly sworn agents trained to "follow the money."

The website states: “Our mission is to serve the American public by investigating potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code, and related financial crimes, in a manner that fosters confidence in the tax system and compliance with the law. “

Elected in 2010, Duncan currently sits on three House committees including the Homeland Security Committee. He is the Chairman of the Oversight and Management Efficiency Subcommittee.

As for bringing IRS officials to a committee hearing, Duncan said, “That’s a possibility.”

Duncan is an avid hunter and lifetime member of the NRA. In the South Carolina House, he has fought against gun control. Duncan has a 100 percent rating

Read more: http://www.wyff4.com/news/local-news/anderson-news/congressman-irs-agents-training-with-semiautomatic-rifles/-/9654706/20537966/-/3onpkt/-/index.html#ixzz2WChBl4Qz

Edited June 14, 2013 by lostinblue

[Karee 4,190]

Big deal. Haven't they been training with them forever?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

This is great news! Now if you don't pay your taxes, the IRS can shoot you.

[Darnell 8,478]

This isn't anything new.

What's new is that a Congressman was on a tour that his aides set up for him, and got exposed to something he shouldn't worry about.

this quote? Why do IRS law enforcement agents need standoff capability that you would have with a long rifle or with a weapon similar to an AR-15? They’re generally investigating tax evasion, fraud and money laundering. We think of the IRS as an audit agency more than doing the type of law enforcement where they have to use an AR-15

speaks mounds and mounds of ignorance by the Congressman. I hope someone in the Congressional Oversight Committee shuts him down, soonish - but with the summertime break, it's probably not going to get noticed.

Edited June 14, 2013 by Darnell

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This isn't anything new.

What's new is that a Congressman was on a tour that his aides set up for him, and got exposed to something he shouldn't worry about.

this quote? Why do IRS law enforcement agents need standoff capability that you would have with a long rifle or with a weapon similar to an AR-15? They’re generally investigating tax evasion, fraud and money laundering. We think of the IRS as an audit agency more than doing the type of law enforcement where they have to use an AR-15

speaks mounds and mounds of ignorance by the Congressman.

"South Carolina’s 3^rd Congressional District representative ... Republican Jeff Duncan"

Questions?

I hope someone in the Congressional Oversight Committee shuts him down, soonish...

Fat chance. You do remember who runs that one, don't you?

[Darnell 8,478]

well, ok - so I have some dream of the system working likes it's supposed to work.

Bad on me - it's not even a 'wet dream' any more..

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

well, ok - so I have some dream of the system working likes it's supposed to work.

That'd be something, wouldn't it? Can't happen, though. Republicans have to sabotage government so they can prove that their claim that government doesn't work.

[Karee 4,190]

That'd be something, wouldn't it? Can't happen, though. Republicans have to sabotage government so they can prove that their claim that government doesn't work.

I think government itself has been proving that for a long time. No need for help from the Republicans.

[GandD 5,966]

That'd be something, wouldn't it? Can't happen, though. Republicans have to sabotage government so they can prove that their claim that government doesn't work.

I'm sure once Republican's gain power again, the sabotaging will be from the other team.

[Karee 4,190]

I'm sure once Republican's gain power again, the sabotaging will be from the other team.

Exactly. They're both useless.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I think government itself has been proving that for a long time. No need for help from the Republicans.

Has it? If there's no help needed from Republicans, then why are they sabotaging the government?

I'm sure once Republican's gain power again, the sabotaging will be from the other team.

Nope, it's Republicans that have been working tirelessly to make sure government doesn't work. Whenever they're in power again, they'll starve the beast further driving up deficits and debt that they will then turn around and complain about when the other guys are back in charge. It's what they did last time around. And there's no reason to believe that they won't do it again.

[GandD 5,966]

Nope, it's Republicans that have been working tirelessly to make sure government doesn't work. Whenever they're in power again, they'll starve the beast further driving up deficits and debt that they will then turn around and complain about when the other guys are back in charge. It's what they did last time around. And there's no reason to believe that they won't do it again.

So, would America be better if Democrats were the only ones in charge? I'll admit I have no love to today's Republican leaders but I think there has to be some balance no?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So, would America be better if Democrats were the only ones in charge? I'll admit I have no love to today's Republican leaders but I think there has to be some balance no?

No, of course not. There's got to be counterweight. Democracy cannot work with a single party in perpetual power. It can't work with two parties in perpetual power either - we see that. I think it is easy to agree, however, that in order for government to work, those that run it have to want to make it work. It won't work if you deliberately keep it from working. It's like driving your car ignoring the gas tank getting empty and then complaining about the car stopping. Only reason it stopped is that you let it run out of gas. No-one to blame but yourself.

[GandD 5,966]

No, of course not. There's got to be counterweight. Democracy cannot work with a single party in perpetual power. It can't work with two parties in perpetual power either - we see that. I think it is easy to agree, however, that in order for government to work, those that run it have to want to make it work. It won't work if you deliberately keep it from working. It's like driving your car ignoring the gas tank getting empty and then complaining about the car stopping. Only reason it stopped is that you let it run out of gas. No-one to blame but yourself.

How much of the failure would you blame on interest groups over political parties assuming they behaved based on core principle (which is a whole different discussion I know)

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

How much of the failure would you blame on interest groups over political parties assuming they behaved based on core principle (which is a whole different discussion I know)

Interest groups do what they do - lobby for their respective interests. The parties have enabled them to basically run the show. Out of sheer greed. That's what I mean when I say that you can't have this perpetual two party system (kept alive and well by the "winner take all" election system) AND democracy. What you end up with is a culture of corruption. And that is what we have.