The new meme: "The government is causing the ammo shortage"

[X_Digger]

9. Funny thing is, the DHS has made some huge ammo purchases in the last year or two..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101622106

Why Does The Department Of Homeland Security Need 450 Million Hollow Point Bullets?

As has the Social Security Administration..
http://www.snopes.com/politics/guns/ssabullets.asp

A solicitation posted by the SSA on the FedBizOpps website asks for contractors to supply 174,000 rounds of ".357 Sig 125 grain bonded jacketed hollow point pistol ammunition."

And 76,000 rounds to NOAA (Fisheries Office)..
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=bfd95987a1ad9a6dfb22bca4a19150cb&_cview=0

It's not that these are such huge purchases- officers (federal or otherwise) need to practice to remain proficient. It's only because of increased transparency and the internet that we know how much ammunition the government goes through now. Before, it would be a line item on a spreadsheet somewhere, or buried in a departmental budget.