Dept of Homeland Security / Lost Guns

Homeland Security reports lost guns

Note that USA Today said 289 guns are "nearly 200."
By Thomas Frank
USA TODAY Feb. 18, 2010

WASHINGTON - The nation's Homeland Security officers lost nearly 200 guns in bowling alleys, public restrooms, unlocked cars and other unsecure areas, with some ending up in the hands of felons. The problem, outlined in a new federal report, has prompted disciplinary actions and extra training.

Most of the misplaced weapons - including handguns, shotguns and military rifles - were never found. "Most losses occurred because officers did not properly secure firearms," says the Homeland Security inspector general report.

At least 15 of the guns ended up in the hands of gang members, criminals, drug users and teenagers, Inspector General Richard Skinner found. His report documented 289 missing firearms from fiscal year 2006 through 2008, although not all were lost because of negligence. Some were lost in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and others were stolen from safes.

The report is the first accounting of guns lost by Homeland Security’s 185,000 workers.

Homeland Security "took immediate action" to correct problems, department spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said Wednesday. Workers are getting extra training, and officials are improving tracking and inspection of guns, Kudwa said.

"The department is strongly committed to ensuring that weapons . . . are kept secure," Kudwa said.

Although the number of guns lost is only a small fraction of Homeland Security’s 190,000 firearms, any lost weapon "is a very serious matter," said Hubert Williams, president of the Police Foundation, a think tank on law enforcement issues. "It reflects the competence of the officer."

The report does not say whether any of the guns were used in crimes.

Homeland Security said employees have been fired and suspended for losing guns. Guns are carried by many Customs, Border Patrol and Immigration agents.

A 2008 report found 76 guns lost by the 4,800 agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in a five-year period ending in 2007.

How do you "lose" a gun?

nonnieselman wrote:How do you "lose" a gun?

Not lost -- just misplaced!!

captain-03 wrote:

nonnieselman wrote:How do you "lose" a gun?

Not lost -- just misplaced!!

OHHH ok i see...

Lost would indicate not locating them at a later date and time. Misplaced means I know there here somewhere just not sure at this time.

your tax dollars at work!!. gee, i "misplace" mine all the time,,,, dont you all?!? i mean whats a few guns lost here and there, i didnt have to buy it, so i guess i am not responsible for it is the logic used by some of our highly intelligent dhc officials. some of them i would not trust with a water pistol.

oh, they loose lap top computers all the time too, of couese they never have information that would compromise national security, they use them toi play solitare only. again your tax dollars at work

Lord have mercy and they want to harp on us.

A few years ago, I saw some jerkoff walking around downtown with a .357 mag (looked like a blued python) on his hip. I approached him & asked what department & precinct he was with as he didn't have a visible badge. Was wearing slack type pants & a button up shirt... figured he was a detective for JPD. He pulled out a Homeland Security I.D. card.... I was kind of scared & kind of shocked all at the same time. After asking him several questions about his shooting (very little, said he only had range time), law enforcement (which he had none) government back ground (Federal employee... no authoritative experience).... I felt very uncomfortable that they would give such a person that kind of "authority" in the jackson metro...

I sincerely hope those idiots don't come anywhere near me toting out of their holster. Especially without declaring themselves and brandishing a badge. I'd just as soon assume they're another well dressed BG.

James D. wrote:A few years ago, I saw some jerkoff walking around downtown with a .357 mag (looked like a blued python) on his hip. I approached him & asked what department & precinct he was with as he didn't have a visible badge. Was wearing slack type pants & a button up shirt... figured he was a detective for JPD. He pulled out a Homeland Security I.D. card.... I was kind of scared & kind of shocked all at the same time. After asking him several questions about his shooting (very little, said he only had range time), law enforcement (which he had none) government back ground (Federal employee... no authoritative experience).... I felt very uncomfortable that they would give such a person that kind of "authority" in the jackson metro...

I sincerely hope those idiots don't come anywhere near me toting out of their holster. Especially without declaring themselves and brandishing a badge. I'd just as soon assume they're another well dressed BG.

Based on what you are saying regarding the weapon he was carrying and his training, he was lying. Flat out lying. The closest thing he could have been to a federal Homeland Security employee would have been a contracted security guard (they carry revolvers), but even they are mandated to have a certain amount of training and experience. They are also not permitted to identify themselves as "Homeland Security", because they are not. They also wear uniforms and cannot carry their weapon if they are not in uniform. The MS State Dept of Homeland Security does not have any sworn personnel. They do have MHP Troopers detailed to them, but they carry Glocks and would identify themselves as Troopers. Hinds County has a Homeland Security Department (as do several counties in MS), so I suppose it could have been a deputy. I would love to know some more specific details regarding your encounter. It is not that I doubt your story in any way. I am, however, very concerned about the individual you met and why he was posing as a Federal Agent.
Thanks,
Gonzo

It was several years ago, post katrina, right down from the little cafe that is so popular with people like george clooney & morgan freeman. I don't recall very much other than what I stated, I was 17 at the time so that's a lot of memories to back through for "specifics". I didn't get a name, or anything the sort.

But, like you... I saw a man carrying a gun in the open without a badge on. Well dressed, would seem casual business attire, it certainly got my attention.

TheGreatGonzo wrote:

James D. wrote:A few years ago, I saw some jerkoff walking around downtown with a .357 mag (looked like a blued python) on his hip. I approached him & asked what department & precinct he was with as he didn't have a visible badge. Was wearing slack type pants & a button up shirt... figured he was a detective for JPD. He pulled out a Homeland Security I.D. card.... I was kind of scared & kind of shocked all at the same time. After asking him several questions about his shooting (very little, said he only had range time), law enforcement (which he had none) government back ground (Federal employee... no authoritative experience).... I felt very uncomfortable that they would give such a person that kind of "authority" in the jackson metro...

I sincerely hope those idiots don't come anywhere near me toting out of their holster. Especially without declaring themselves and brandishing a badge. I'd just as soon assume they're another well dressed BG.

Based on what you are saying regarding the weapon he was carrying and his training, he was lying. Flat out lying. The closest thing he could have been to a federal Homeland Security employee would have been a contracted security guard (they carry revolvers), but even they are mandated to have a certain amount of training and experience. They are also not permitted to identify themselves as "Homeland Security", because they are not. They also wear uniforms and cannot carry their weapon if they are not in uniform. The MS State Dept of Homeland Security does not have any sworn personnel. They do have MHP Troopers detailed to them, but they carry Glocks and would identify themselves as Troopers. Hinds County has a Homeland Security Department (as do several counties in MS), so I suppose it could have been a deputy. I would love to know some more specific details regarding your encounter. It is not that I doubt your story in any way. I am, however, very concerned about the individual you met and why he was posing as a Federal Agent.
Thanks,
Gonzo

Ah, he was probably either EPA or IRS.

Wait, those two agencies use Glocks and shotguns ..........

I've been thinking about this for a while..... And I just spoke with my mother about it. It just hit me like a pile of bricks. The guy wasn't homeland security. He was FEMA. I don't know why I would have confused to two but I did.

Now I remember why it seemed so odd to me..... A FEMA employee with a gun... It was so strange. I couldn't figure it out & still haven't.

Any ideas?

FEMA is part of Homeland Security, has been since 2003

James D. wrote:I've been thinking about this for a while..... And I just spoke with my mother about it. It just hit me like a pile of bricks. The guy wasn't homeland security. He was FEMA. I don't know why I would have confused to two but I did.

Now I remember why it seemed so odd to me..... A FEMA employee with a gun... It was so strange. I couldn't figure it out & still haven't.

Any ideas?

bubbat wrote:FEMA is part of Homeland Security, has been since 2003

FEMA, indeed, was melded into DHS in 2003. However, FEMA does not have any armed employees (with the exception of a very small Police Force who is charged only with the protection of the FEMA site at Mount Weather...they have absolutely no authority off of that property). In the field, FEMA utilizes the contract security officers I mentioned in my first post to provide security at their sites and they are simply private security guards under contract to the government. FEMA has fulltime Security Managers and Security Specialists, but they have no authority to be armed and have no arrest authority. FEMA is very, very, very anti-gun. You may recall that several volunteer rescue teams were sent home by FEMA after Katrina because their members (Deputy Sheriff's) refused to surrender their firearms while working for FEMA. That should give you a good idea of just how anit-gun FEMA is. They don't even want cops who are working as FEMA volunteers to be armed.

Now, that being said, FEMA gets more than its share of...uhhhhmmmm...let's say "eccentric" employees. More than a couple were fired following Katrina because they were carrying guns and trying to exercise authority they did not have (to include threatening to arrest folks!!). It would not shock me at all to find out that this was some FEMA goofball, which would also explain why he had no badge or law enforcement credentials, just a DHS I.D. card.
Gonzo

Sounds about right. Still makes me nervous though. I may have at one time been a federal employee when I was enlisted, but the feds still bug me... way too much "power" without any real credentials backing it. I was watching Law Abiding Citizen last night, and they emphasized "It's not what you know that counts, only what you can prove in court". The feds have more pull and power with the court system than I am comfortable with.

I would be just fine with acreage, a home, a family and a job. I'd shop at the mom & pop store a mile away and live my life happily without interference from them...

James D. wrote:Sounds about right. Still makes me nervous though. I may have at one time been a federal employee when I was enlisted, but the feds still bug me... way too much "power" without any real credentials backing it. I was watching Law Abiding Citizen last night, and they emphasized "It's not what you know that counts, only what you can prove in court". The feds have more pull and power with the court system than I am comfortable with.

I would be just fine with acreage, a home, a family and a job. I'd shop at the mom & pop store a mile away and live my life happily without interference from them...

A healthy amount of distrust for the government is a good thing. A distrusting citizenry is a vigilant citizenry. And a vigilant citizenry is needed to keep any government in check. Some people take it overboard, in my opinion, and get mired down in fear and paranoia. In my opinion, that is when it becomes unhealthy.
Gonzo

I'm just saying, I'd sooner trust Joe the deputy at the local sheriff's dept. than I would any kind of federal law enforcement.