“If there is insufficient oversight, special agents in possession of firearms who are not properly trained and qualified could endanger other special agents and the public.”Ģ. The IRS failure to conduct proper internal oversight of its weapons could have grave consequences for the public. Another decision upheld a jury’s conclusion that undocumented police training did not constitute adequate training.” One decision dismissed the claims against a law enforcement entity that maintained thorough records that showed the law enforcement personnel had been trained. Other court decisions underscored the importance of properly documenting firearms training. “Court decisions in the past have held law enforcement entities liable because their law enforcement agents did not have training that reflected the environment that they would likely encounter, such as training involving moving targets and low-light conditions. The Inspector General noted that the IRS lapses torpedo its ability to effectively try cases: The Criminal Investigation Management Information System was only updated to reflect the custody change in four of those nine instances.” CI was only able to provide evidence that firearms were surrendered in nine of the 27 instances when special agents did not qualify. “controls did not ensure that CI personnel properly secured firearms when special agents failed to meet the biannual standard qualification requirement. The Inspector General noted the IRS failed to secure the firearms of those who did not meet their requirements: “However, there is currently little consequence for special agents who fail to meet the training requirements listed on the checklist.” Special agents are required to surrender their weapons when they fail to participate in this training, however this often does not happen. “there is no national-level review of firearms training records to ensure that all special agents meet the qualification requirements.” Despite these requirements, CI agents have regularly failed to stay up to date on training or report incidents, endangering the taxpayers they are supposed to protect.Īccording to reports from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the IRS has repeatedly failed to ensure that procedures relating to firearms are properly followed: This includes developing the firearm qualification requirements they are expected to meet and the training special agents will undergo.

In order to carry or use an IRS-owned weapon, agents must: engage in handgun firing training at least once each quarter, shoot at least the minimum of 75 percentage points on the firearms qualifying test using the issued handgun during two nonconsecutive quarters, participate in biannual firearms building entry exercises, participate in an annual briefing on firearms safety and security policies and CI’s directives and procedures regarding the safe handling and storage of firearms, and participate in a briefing each quarter regarding the policy of discharging a firearm at a moving vehicle.ĬI’s National Criminal Investigation Training Academy (NCITA) is responsible for implementing the formalized firearms training and qualification program nationwide. IRS FAILS TO ENSURE ARMED AGENTS RECEIVE REQUIRED FIREARMS TRAINING There are seven reasons to be concerned about the IRS having more power, more money, and more guns:ġ. When OpenTheBooks asked for an accounting of the IRS gun locker, the agency responded, “We don’t have one, but could create one for you, if important.” The current 4,600-gun stockpile includes 3,282 pistols, 621 shotguns, 539 rifles, 15 fully automatic firearms, and four revolvers.Īccording to the Government Accountability Office the ammunition breakdown is as follows: How much larger will this unchecked arsenal get if the agency gets more funding? Executive Agencies shows that, even without the proposed $80 billion increase in funding, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) is already heavily armed at the expense of the American taxpayer. The Democrats’ push to increase the size and power of the IRS has significant criminal justice and basic due process ramifications.Īn OpenTheBooks report titled The Militarization of U.S. With Democrats calling for $80 billion in additional funding and the hiring of 87,000 new IRS agents, how much will this arsenal grow? 1, 2019 according to a report from OpenTheBooks published in 2020. The IRS has stockpiled 4,600 guns and five million rounds of ammunition as of Jan.

Ammo stockpile law