If ‘Assault Weapons’ Are Bad…Why Does DHS Want to Buy
7,000 of Them for ‘Personal Defense’?
The Department of Homeland Security
is seeking to acquire 7,000 5.56x45mm NATO “personal defense weapons” (PDW) —
also known as “assault weapons” when owned by civilians. The solicitation,
originally posted on June 7, 2012, comes to light as the Obama administration
is calling for a ban on semi-automatic rifles and high capacity magazines.
Citing a General Service
Administration (GSA) request for proposal (RFP),
Steve McGough of RadioViceOnline.com
reports that DHS is asking for the 7,000 “select-fire” firearms
because they are “suitable for personal defense use in close quarters.” The
term select-fire means the weapon can be both semi-automatic and automatic.
Civilians are prohibited from obtaining these kinds of weapons.
The RFP describes the firearm as
“Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) – 5.56x45mm NATO, select-fire firearm suitable
for personal defense use in close quarters and/or when maximum concealment is
required.” Additionally, DHS is asking for 30 round magazines that “have a capacity
to hold thirty (30) 5.56x45mm NATO rounds.”
Republican New York state Sen. Greg
Ball also issued a press release this
week bringing attention to the weapons purchase request.
Calls made to DHS seeking
information regarding whether or not the RFP was accepted and fulfilled were
not immediately returned on Saturday.
Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) on
Thursday introduced legislation that
would enact a so-called “assault weapons” ban. The bill would ban more than 150
firearms and limit magazines to 10 rounds. There is no expiration date on
Feinstein’s bill.