[Vision2020] Rep. Stewart Introduces Bill to De-Militarize Federal Regulatory Agencies

[Paul Rumelhart]

Here is some gun control legislation I can get behind.  Source: http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-stewart-introduces-bill-to-de-militarize-federal-regulatory-agencies

Rep. Stewart Introduces Bill to De-Militarize Federal Regulatory Agencies
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) introduced the Regulatory Agency 
De-militarization (RAD) Act, which stems the trend of federal regulatory agencies developing SWAT-like teams.
In recent years, numerous federal regulatory agencies – including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Food and Drug Agency and the Department of Education – have created their own special law enforcement teams to conduct their own arrests and raids. This is in part a product of the 2002 Homeland 
Security Act, which gave most Offices of Inspector General arrest and 
firearm authority.
"It's disturbing to see the stories of federal regulators armed to 
the teeth and breaking into homes and businesses when there was no 
reason to think there would be resistance," Stewart said.
“I understand that federal agents must be capable of protecting 
themselves. But what we have observed goes far beyond providing 
necessary protection. When there are genuinely dangerous situations 
involving federal law, that’s the job of the Department of Justice, not 
regulatory agencies like the FDA or the Department of Education. Not 
only is it overkill, but having these highly-armed units within dozens 
of agencies is duplicative, costly, heavy handed, dangerous and destroys any sense of trust between citizens and the federal government.”

The RAD Act has three pieces:
1. Repeals the arrest and firearm authority granted to Offices of Inspectors General in the 2002 Homeland Security Act.
2. Prohibits federal agencies, other than those 
traditionally tasked with enforcing federal law—such as the FBI and 
U.S. Marshals, from purchasing machine guns, grenades, and other 
weaponry regulated under the National Firearms Act.
3. Directs the Government Accountability Office 
(GAO) to write a complete report detailing all federal agencies, 
including Offices of Inspectors General, with specialized units that 
receive special tactical or military-style training and that respond to 
high-risk situations that fall outside the capabilities of regular law 
enforcement officers.

“The militarization of agencies is only a symptom of a much deeper 
and more troubling problem within Washington – that the federal 
government no longer trusts the American people,” Stewart said. “When 
all of us feel that we are no longer seen as citizens but as potential 
dangerous suspects – a relationship of trust is impossible. I’m working 
to restore and rebuild trust – beginning with this effort to defund 
paramilitary capabilities within federal regulatory agencies.”

Specific examples of the militarization of federal regulatory agencies include:
	* In July 2010, a multi-agency taskforce, 
including armed officers from the Food and Drug Agency, raided a Venice, California organic grocery store suspected of using raw milk. (LA Times, July 10, 2010).
	* In June 2011, armed federal agents with the Department of 
Education’s OIG broke down the door of a Stockton, California home at 6 
AM and handcuffed a man suspected of student aid fraud. (Washington Post, June 8, 2011).
	* In July 2013, an armed multi-agency taskforce, including officers 
from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Land Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service, 
the Fish and Wildlife Service raided a small Alaska mining operation 
suspected of violating the Clean Water Act. (Washington Times, Oct. 11, 2013).
	* On May 7th, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s OIG released a solicitation for submachine guns.
For the full text of the bill, click here.

Original Co-sponsors of the bill include: Representatives Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Tom 
McClintock (R-Calif.), Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Kerry Bentivolio (R-Mich), Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), Billy Long (R-Mo.), Doug 
LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), 
Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.), Tom Rice (R-S.C.) and 
Mark Amodei (R-Nev.).
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