Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a Republican, will introduce legislation on Tuesday that would forbid the Internal Revenue Service from arming its employees with taxpayer funds.
The ‘Why Does the IRS Have Guns Act’ forbids the IRS from purchasing, receiving, or storing firearms and ammunition.
IRS Taxpayer Criminal Investigation Division Transferring to Justice Department
In order to aid with federal deficit reduction, all firearms and ammunition now in their custody would be transferred to the General Services Administration and put up for auction to holders of federal firearms licenses.
The IRS Criminal Investigation Division would also move into the Justice Department.
Ernst stated in a press release on Tuesday that the taxman is carrying a heavy load at the expense of the taxpayer.
She expressed significant concern over any additional weaponization of the IRS against hard-working Americans and small businesses, given the Joe Biden administration’s efforts to increase the IRS’s size.
In order to rectify Washington’s careless spending, I’m fighting to disarm the IRS and return these funds.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, the IRS is said to have spent $10 million on weapons and equipment, including rifles and tactical shotguns.
Read more: IRS Announcement: NIL Collectives Excluded From Tax Exempt Category
Criticism Of Funding Increase Targeting Small Businesses And Families
These purchases included $243,000 in body armor vests, $2.3 million in ammunition, $1.2 million in ballistic shields, $474,000 in Smith & Wesson rifles, and $463,000 in Baretta1301 tactical shotguns.
According to Ernst’s news release, the organization has spent $35.2 million in government money since 2006 on weapons, ammunition, and military-style equipment.
The IRS is trying to hire armed special agents in each of the 50 states, according to a job posting on its website earlier this year.
The IRS received $80 billion from the President Joe Biden-signed Inflation Reduction Act last year to increase staff over the following ten years, a move that Republicans claimed was aimed at small businesses and families.
Read more: Confusing IRS Tax Balance Due Notices For California Taxpayers