If you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases observe it. - Julius Caesar

Recently, New Jersey Representative Leonard Lance had reported to the American public in an Tea Party Rally that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has refused to account for the purchase of nearly 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition.gov against guns

In his concluding remarks, Lance stated, "I think we need to make sure we continue to live in a country based on freedom – a country based on individual rights – and I hope that we in Congress get the answers to these questions.", with regards to the DHS purchases.

And the DHS is right back at buying more ammunition for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, in particular, .40 caliber S&W Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) rounds. Since the start of 2013, two contracts were awarded in January and again in February.

In the two previous purchases, the request was 200,000 for each contract – one of which has some potential fraud issues. This purchase is different, and requests 360,000 rounds.

LI 001: Ammunition, Commercial leaded training ammo (CLTA) Pistol .40 caliber 165 grain, jacketed hollow point (JHP)

p/n P40HSTS3G or equal – Brass casing. Quantity of 360,000 rounds -

newly loaded unit price per 1000 rounds with FOB Destination., 360, CA

This recent contract holds the potential for fraud as well. On 18 March 2013, a request was made for a variety of small arms ammunition. Please note they are now displaying the total amounts of rounds being requested to avoid confusion:

LI 001: 45 Long Colt – 250 gr. JHP total rounds 4000, 200, bx;

LI 002: 45 ACP 230GR JHP 1000 rounds per box total rounds 20,000, 20, mx;

LI 003: 22 LONG RIFLE CCI GREEN TAG COMPETITION RIMFIRE AMMUNITION total rounds 40,000, 400, bx;

LI 004: 30-30 160 gr. – this is being used for a Government gun. total rounds 4,680, 234, bx;

LI 005: 12 GAUGE #8 BIRDSHOT WINCHESTER AA LIGHT TARGET AA128 total rounds 20,00, 80, bx;

LI 006: 410 GAUGE #9 WINCHESTER AA TARGET AA4109 total rounds 10,000, 40, bx;

LI 007: .357 MAGNUM 180 GRAIN JHP total rounds 6,000, 300, bx;

LI 008: 7.69X39MM 123 GRAIN total rounds 5,000, 250, bx;

Three days later, or yesterday, the solicitation was modified to alter some of the language only. Not the ammunition amounts.

Yesterday, the solicitation for the .40 caliber rounds was made – and not integrated into the previous solicitation. The ammunition is to be delivered to the exact same location: Artesia, New Mexico. This creates more work and a would allow a contract to be "given" to a manufacturer who does not actually deliver a product – yet provides a kickback or other forms of graft.

The .40 caliber is being requested by Procurement Specialist Linda Morrow, while the small arms ammunition is being handled by Procurement Technician Filipita Dennis. In the government food chain – a specialist "out-ranks" a technician. In the solicitation for ammunition that potentially was fraudulent, Cynthia Doster, a Contracting Officer (out-ranks the first two) handled the request.