Pistols Protect SSI Benefits

OMG! The Republicans are out to kill Social Security as we know it, now Social Security Agents are out to kill us!

According to an article by Stephen Ohlemacher of the Associated Press, the Social Security Administration has posted a notice that it has ordered 174,000 hollow-point cartridges for its agents who carry .357 pistols.

Did you know Social Security agents carried pistols? Did you know Social Security even had “agents?” Sam and I sure didn’t. Can you imagine applying to the SSA for benefits and an “agent” says, “No, sorry you don’t qualify?” BOOM!

The agency probably should do a better job of saying no to some of its applicants - those people who could work, but hire attorneys to convince the agency they can’t. Because of those freeloaders SSI is being drained to the point our children and grandchildren may never receive the benefits to which they are lawfully entitled. But shooting applicants? Maybe not.

According to Ohlemacher’s article, the website Infowars.com said, “It’s not outlandish to suggest that the Social Security Administration is purchasing the bullets as part of preparations for civil unrest.”

It’s not?! Personally, I would only become civilly unrestful - shouldn’t that be uncivilly unrestful? - If my SSI check was late and several of the personal checks I wrote out for bill payments came bouncing back to me NSF (Not social security funded). But why do so many people in this country currently seem to embrace the idea of civil unrest (aka Hunger Games, etc.) as being inevitable? It doesn’t have to be.

The SSA says its 295 field agents, who investigate fraud and other crimes, made 589 arrests last year executing search warrants and responding to threats against agency employees and customers. Most of the bullets ordered will reportedly be fired in target practice. Because we need expert marksmen SSA agents I guess.

Boy! If you think of America is the land of the free, you are way off base. Not only do our various city, county, state and national agencies employ gun-toting dudes, some of our major corporations, private security agencies, train and transit systems and others also carry weapons of fast destruction. And now Social Security?! OMG!

One reason Social Security agents carry guns, according to Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security and Patrick O’Carroll, Jr., Acting Inspector General of Social Security, is because some benefit recipients have become the targets of a number of scams surfacing throughout the United States. These scam artists have used a variety of sneaky tactics to obtain personal information, such as a Social Security or bank account direct-deposit numbers and so on, from the Social Security recipients

"I find it very troubling that our most vulnerable citizens are being targeted by these unscrupulous people,” Commissioner Barnhart stated.

That is troubling. But hey! No problem. Just shoot ‘em!

Here’s another scary gun tidbit. The U.S. Department of Education recently posted an intention to buy 27 brand-new Model 870 police-grade 12-gauge shotguns. This may not be as far-fetched as the Social Security deal though, given all the school shootings occurring in our country. The law enforcement arm of the Department of Education investigates theft and other illegal uses of federal education funds and their job requires potentially dangerous duties including serving warrants and making felony arrests. They are required to carry firearms.

Is it just me or is there something wrong with all this gun toting? This is sort of like the drug problem. So many people take drugs we’ll never stamp illegal drugs out. If so many people are packin’ heat we’ll never stamp illegal gun use out either. Three (maybe four) bags of poop on that. Squat Sam, Squat! He’s my squat team. Good boy Sam.