Why are IRS agents carrying shotguns? Isn't the power to tax threatening enough?

Monday, June 24, 2013 by: J. D. Heyes
Tags: armed IRS agents, Obamacare, shotguns

(NaturalNews) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has not been a favorite of American taxpayers for decades, and the recent revelations that the agency improperly targeted specific political groups opposed to President Obama who were seeking tax-exempt status will only further erode the public's trust.

But what is even more disturbing is the fact that the IRS is arming its growing number of "special agents," many with shotguns in addition to side arms. The question is why, considering there has been no rash of armed incidents involving IRS agents and taxpayers?

The agency's move to acquire shotguns began in with a request by the IRS posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website in 2010. The shotguns were being requested for the agency's "Criminal Investigation Division."

Bigger IRS, more armed agents, and Obamacare

At the time the IRS was seeking to purchase 60 Remington Model 870 Police 12-gauge pump-action shotguns, "the only weapons authorized for IRS duty," WorldNetDaily reported.

"The IRS Criminal Division includes roughly 2,700 special agents who are required to carry a firearm," the news site added.

What's more, the IRS is about get bigger - a lot bigger - thanks to Obamacare.

Consider that, in 2010, Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee issued a report saying the IRS may need as many as 16,500 additional auditors, agents and other employees "to investigate and collect billions in new taxes from Americans." No doubt many of these new hires will be armed.

In addition, Obamacare contains 21 new taxes (in addition to the mandate requiring Americans to purchase insurance - remember, the Supreme Court ruled that was a tax), and IRS agents will be granted many new powers. Per The Associated Press:

Under the law, the IRS will provide tax breaks and incentives to help pay for health insurance and impose penalties on some people who don't buy coverage and on some businesses that don't offer it to employees. The changes will require new regulations, forms and publications, new computer programs and a big new outreach program to explain it all to taxpayers and tax professionals.

And this, from Fox Nation, which reported in March 2010:

Top IRS officials have been working with Democrats on Capitol Hill to determine how the agency will enforce President Obama's new health care law. Republican lawmakers estimate the legislation will require the hiring of many thousands of new (and armed) tax enforcement agents.

It's still unclear just how many new IRS agents will have to be hired, but what is very clear is that, under Obamacare, the IRS will be required to fine taxpayers (yet another retaliatory action charged to the hated IRS) thousands of dollars if they don't conform with the requirement to buy health insurance.

'16,500 armed thugs'

"In order for the government to enforce compliance, tax authorities will need information, for the first time, about people's health care. Collecting that data will require more IRS personnel," Fox Nation noted.

Before he retired from office, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas - long an opponent of the IRS and the nation's byzantine, punitive tax code - warned us all about the coming IRS army.

Paul, himself a physician, wondered aloud why - if Obamacare was simply a "reform" measure that was supposed to be "good for the country" - did the IRS need so many more armed agents.

"This is a command society now and medicine is right at the forefront of this....16,500 armed bureaucrats coming to make this program work - if it was a good program and everybody liked it, you wouldn't need 16,500 thugs coming with their guns and putting you in jail if you didn't follow all the rules," he said.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.wnd.com

http://news.investors.com

http://www.infowars.com/dnc-chair-irs-easiest-enforcer-of-obamacare/