The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have made a purchase that is making a lot of people very nervous. Recently they put in for a “indefinite delivery” of an “indefinite quantity” of .40 caliber ammunition from defense contractor ATK. The two agencies will receive a maximum of 450 million rounds over the next 5 years.

“We are proud to extend our track record as the prime supplier of .40 caliber duty ammunition for DHS, ICE,” said Ron Johnson, President of ATK’s Security and Sporting group. “The HST is a proven design that will continue to serve those who keep our borders safe.” ATK will produce the ammunition at the Federal Cartridge Company facility in Anoka, Minn. Deliveries are expected to begin in June.

This does have some people worried. At conservative blog Political-Conservatives.Blogspot.com they mused this:

“In the past couple weeks, we have written here about our concerns that there will be no election and that we do not understand the press and the threats of riots if the killer of Trayvon Martin is not arrested. Add on top of that the tweet-gate of Roseanne Barr and Spike Lee and one has to wonder what is going to happen next.”

A commenternamed “Brian” on Truthaboutguns.com had this to say:

“Thats 50 rounds per estimated armed agent per month. I am not obligated to train and I shoot more than that in a month.”

Brian has the best and most logical point. It is the agents job to be prepared, and the vast majority do not like to wait to shoot a gun until it is qualifying time, so they stay sharp and practice as often as they can.