Why are the feds loading up on so much ammo?

The Examiner reporters have their math wrong. They've taken the numbers in the FedBid solicitations and multiplied them incorrectly because the description describes both the unit size and the total quantity requested. For example:

    Desc = BRASS CASING 100,000 ROUNDS PRICE PER 1000 ROUNDS WILL INCLUDE DELIVERY.

    Qty = 100

The article has taken the Qty number and multiplied it by the total units, not the unit size.

Their math to get to 21.6 million is:

100 x 100,000 +

100 x 100,000 +

40 x 40,400 =

=============

2,160,000

The correct figure for the bid is actually the much more reasonable 240,000. That number is reasonable if you imagine that maybe the department has 100 armed employees who fire 50 rounds per week at the gun range to maintain their abilities: 100 x 50 x 52 = 260,000.

https://marketplace.fedbid.com/fbweb/fbobuyDetails.do?token=...

http://www.examiner.com/article/dhs-adds-21-6-million-rounds...

From the same author as "Obama's shotgun photo: Fake or for real?"

I'm sorry but while I was very interested about finding an explanation about the alleged acquisition (of ammos), the second I realize this is an opinion piece and the author likes to veer in conspiracists territory, I have to treat him as an unreliable source and check everything that's written from reliable sources. IOW, I have to rewrite his article for myself.

So yeah, I would have loved to find whether there's something fishy about DHS's current ammo that they had to replace it, or if they have reasons to believe that the price of ammo is going to flare up, etc... But once I realize this is an opinion piece from a potential conspiracy theorist, phrases such as "...shoot every American 5 times" take another implied meaning.

This article promotes the conspiracy theory that Obama is making some kind of Stormtrooper group and amassing ammunition for some unspecified nefarious plot. Why is this on HN instead of the Blaze?

Lynn Westmoreland has an explanation (Note: most of the purchases were made last year).

http://westmoreland.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&#...

Short answer: It's cheaper to buy a lot up front.

Maybe their analysts have predicted that another war could start? Or that ammo prices are going to go up, so they're just stockpiling?

As for the domestic insurrection conspiracy theory, it's been months since the election. If the teabaggers were going to do something, it would've probably happened by now.

Could this be connected with gun control? i.e. trying to influence the market in some way to make gun ownership less more difficult or less attractive.

Random idea, probably stupid.

To reduce the amount of ammo available for sale, in a arms-race of sorts with all the gun-nuts stocking up in case guns get banned? Not sure how that would work though, won't the manufacturers just jump at the opportunity to make and sell more ammo?

Is ammo particularly cheap at the minute? Are they trying to hedge against future price rises in ammunition costs? Maybe it's a game of brinkmanship between federal departments "I can buy more bullets than you."

...to then begin selling it to the public via online ammo sites, while gathering data on the buyers.

How did I do?

/tinfoil hat etc

At the same time California is trying to pass legislation to limit citizens to purchases of 500 rounds.

Not saying they're related, but it's certainly provides conspiracy theory fodder.

I sort of wonder if maybe they're trying to drive up ammo prices?

LEOs need to spending more time at the shooting range.