IRS Agents ‘Accidentally’ Discharged Guns 11 Times

[rotor]

I say this is good reason to give them a bonus. Seriously though, when I was stationed in Wyoming in the AF if you got frostbit you could be court martialed. But no penalty for "accidental discharge" of a firearm with possible damage ( they can't tell us) of property.

[VoiceofReason]

More scary: They are getting AR 15's.

"Agents actually fired their guns accidently more often than they intentionally fired them in the field, according to an audit by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/irs ... e-injuries" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.irs.gov/irm/part9/irm_09-011-003.html#d0e155" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
9.11.3.10.4 (03-17-2011)
Firearms
2.The Glock (emphasis mine).40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, Models 22, 23 and 27 are the standard issued weapons for CI. Special agents will be issued one of these firearms on a permanent basis. Agents will retain their assigned weapon during their entire career unless the weapon is recalled for repair or replacement.

No comment.

[bagman45]

And NOW, they have 2 BILLION rounds to negligently discharge...happy, happy, happy....

[VoiceofReason]

And NOW, they have 2 BILLION rounds to negligently discharge...happy, happy, happy....

Me thinks that government purchase is just a back handed way to drive up cost and reduce availability of ammo.

[sodchemist]

most employees at the IRS could be replaced with compute/machine learning algorithms. i'm sure there are labor unions keeping it from happening. there is absolutely no need for most of these IRS workers anymore. the banking industry switched over long ago to automated tellers that count money, read deposit slips or checks, and never make errors. in fact, the atm machine is really the only thing i know that handles my money fairly. perhaps we'll be able to marry them someday, now that we can marry whomever we want. and the IRS agents with guns? are these the people that take you to jail when you don't pay your taxes?

[cb1000rider]

most employees at the IRS could be replaced with compute/machine learning algorithms. i'm sure there are labor unions keeping it from happening. there is absolutely no need for most of these IRS workers anymore. the banking industry switched over long ago to automated tellers that count money, read deposit slips or checks, and never make errors. in fact, the atm machine is really the only thing i know that handles my money fairly. perhaps we'll be able to marry them someday, now that we can marry whomever we want. and the IRS agents with guns? are these the people that take you to jail when you don't pay your taxes?

The IRS uses modern compute heuristics and statistics extensively. It's also part of why we know what behaviors on a tax form are associated with a higher risk of audit.

I can't imaging getting rid of the majority of IRS workers. I'd like to. The tax code is complex for individuals and even worse for businesses. Someone has to deal with that complexity People go to school for 4 years just to get a foot in the accounting field these days and they're considered entry level.

Someone has to be a real human with a brain on the end of the phone when I get flagged and produce all of my associated documentation.

I can imagine gutting our tax code to a flat tax and then gutting the IRS. Sign me up. Even if it costs me more!

IRS with guns? These are people that are walking into a home or place of business where people own them money. Some of the really left leaning ones think that the government doesn't have a right to tax them. Yea, if that was my job, I'd want to carry a gun too.

I work not very far from where that private pilot few his plane into the IRS building.... Considering it from the point of view of being any one of those employees, I can see them arming the secretaries.

[Dave2]

[...] I'm simply pointing out some irony. Many people on this forum get upset when they can't carry to work or can't carry at work. Yet we think it's fine to remove firearms from IRS agents who probably face more on-the-job dangers and occupational hazards than many of us do? Yea, I think that's odd...

Oh, I'm not opposed to IRS agents carrying their personal guns with them on the job. I just don't see a need for them to have arrest authority or have their guns be issued to them.

[Topbuilder]

The IRS has a criminal investigation division that carry sidearms. They deal with bad guys.
When seconds count the police are minutes away...

[anygunanywhere]

The IRS has a criminal investigation division that carry sidearms. They deal with bad guys.
When seconds count the police are minutes away...

The IRS thinks we all are bad guys so just curious - what is your point?

Anygunanywhere

[MaxBerlin]

Why would accountants need guns to conduct their official activities? They should be armed with pencils and common sense first.

Next thing we'll hear about minor alcohol enforcement shooting at college girls for buying sparkling water.

http://inthecapital.streetwise.co/2013/ ... ice-cream/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[cb1000rider]

Why would accountants need guns to conduct their official activities?

Under that line of thinking, why should any of us be armed at work?
Why did an engineer fly a private plane into a building housing a bunch of accountants here in Austin?

I get it if you don't think anyone should be armed at work. I don't get it if you think everyone should be allowed to be armed at work except for the IRS.

[anygunanywhere]

Why would accountants need guns to conduct their official activities?

Under that line of thinking, why should any of us be armed at work?
Why did an engineer fly a private plane into a building housing a bunch of accountants here in Austin?

I get it if you don't think anyone should be armed at work. I don't get it if you think everyone should be allowed to be armed at work except for the IRS.

I see your points, but here we are talking about tax collectors being turned into tax police. Not necessary.

Anygunanywhere

[EEllis]

Why would accountants need guns to conduct their official activities?

Under that line of thinking, why should any of us be armed at work?
Why did an engineer fly a private plane into a building housing a bunch of accountants here in Austin?

I get it if you don't think anyone should be armed at work. I don't get it if you think everyone should be allowed to be armed at work except for the IRS.

I see your points, but here we are talking about tax collectors being turned into tax police. Not necessary.

Anygunanywhere

These guys don't go after people who misfile their returns they go after criminals. Al Capone was convicted of tax fraud. Auditors don't carry guns it's the criminal investigators who do.

[anygunanywhere]

These guys don't go after people who misfile their returns they go after criminals. Al Capone was convicted of tax fraud. Auditors don't carry guns it's the criminal investigators who do.

Sorry. There are enough ABC fed.gov agencies that pack. Tax collectors do not need to.

Anygunanywhere

[EEllis]

These guys don't go after people who misfile their returns they go after criminals. Al Capone was convicted of tax fraud. Auditors don't carry guns it's the criminal investigators who do.

Sorry. There are enough ABC fed.gov agencies that pack. Tax collectors do not need to.

Anygunanywhere

And when faced with the complexities of the tax laws they would just ignore tax fraud for other crime or they would end up being exclusive to the enforcement of said laws so they basically would still be tax cops. These are not collectors, auditors, or anything but criminal investigators.