BELLEVUE, WA – The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today applauded Oklahoma Congresswoman Stephanie Bice for requesting information from the Internal Revenue Service about the weapons and accessories it has purchased in recent years, turning the tax agency into what appears to be a quasi-military operation.
Rep. Bice sent a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, inquiring about the account(s) IRS used to purchase “weapons, gear, and ammunition,” and “data on the types of modifications to IRS-issued weapons that have been approved…” She has asked for a reply within five business days.
“Congresswoman Bice isn’t the only one who wants some answers,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “As we noted more than a month ago, the IRS has reportedly spent $2.3 million on ammunition, nearly $475,000 on Smith & Wesson rifles, another $463,000 for Beretta tactical shotguns, and $1.2 million on ballistic shields. We would very much like to know what’s going on here, and so would our members.”
Gottlieb recalled CCRKBA became interested when U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) announced legislation in June dubbed the “Why Does the IRS Have Guns Act.” About the same time, published reports revealed the agency has spent tens of millions of dollars on firearms and equipment for several years, with the pace apparently picking up after Joe Biden took office.
“Last month,” he said,” we supported Sen. Joni Ernst when she announced legislation to disarm the IRS, and likewise we support Rep. Bice in her effort to get the facts. The IRS has some explaining to do, and so does the Biden administration. For a president who wants to restrict the gun rights of law-abiding American citizens, Biden sure seems keen on having federal agencies armed to the teeth.
“We are hopeful Rep. Bice gets all the information she’s requested,” Gottlieb added, “so she can share it with the taxpayers whose money has been spent on all of this hardware. If IRS Commissioner Werfel isn’t forthcoming with the information, the public and Congress should start asking why.”