Department of Homeland Security: Sport rifle (AR-15) “suitable for personal defense”

[tony m]

http://radioviceonline.com/department-of-homeland-security-sport-rifle-ar-15-suitable-for-personal-defense/

Section C of solicitation number HSCEMS-12-R-00011 is pretty specific. Here is a direct link to the Section C PDF (246KB). My emphasis in bold. Notice the term assault weapon or assault rifle is not used anywhere in the document.

The scope of this contract is to provide a total of up to 7,000 5.56x45mm North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

personal defense weapons

(PDW) throughout the life of this contract to numerous Department of Homeland Security components. …

In paragraph 3.1 under requirements and testing standards we read…

DHS and its components have a requirement for a 5.56x45mm NATO, select-fire firearm

suitable for personal defense use in close quarters

and/or when maximum concealment is required.

Isn’t that inconvenient for the gun control politicians? In requirement paragraph 3.9.10, they find a need for a 30-round magazine.

The action shall be capable of accepting all standard NATO STANAG 20 and 30 round M16 magazines (NSN 1005-00-921-5004) and Magpul 30 round PMAG (NSN 1005-01-576-5159). The magazine well shall be designed to allow easy insertion of a magazine.

[josephmrtn]

well now i can own one and its not called an "assault rifle" anymore... sweet!!! (this just ruined feinsteins bill for her)

[ginoe]

select fire, 30 round, PDW - has a nice ring to it

[Ford]

It is simply procurement requirement of a Federal LEO agency. (to put in writing why they need it.) Of course an AR can be used for defense. You are confusing an Agencies procurement of certain weapons, whith the overzealous politicians that are trying to infringe on our second amendment.

Edited January 25, 2013 by Ford