In what world do we live in where IRS agents are required to carry a gun and must be willing to use deadly force? I thought the role of the IRS was to remind you to pay your taxes, not enter your home with the intent to kill over an error on your W-2.
Documentarian Ford Fischer tweeted a screenshot of the IRS careers website, which included mentions of “irregular hours” and being on-call 24 hours in addition to holidays and weekends. It also cited the IRS’ Criminal Investigation team—described as “the law enforcement branch of the IRS”—which requires special agents to “Carry a firearm and be willing to use deadly force, if necessary.”
After outrage kicked up on social media over the requirement to “use deadly force”, the IRS agent job description was quickly edited to remove any mention of the fact that agents must be ready to kill tax evaders.
A retired agent also stressed that any IRS employee required to use deadly force would be to deal with those involved in serious criminal activity.
“It’s just not true,” retired agent Anthony Dominicis, who carried a gun when he busted drug dealers but never fired it, told the New York Post. “The only people who need to be concerned about an armed agent are those involved in serious criminal activity.
“To be armed is smart,” Dominicis added. “I wouldn’t try to arrest somebody without it.”
But Americans, particularly Conservatives, aren’t convinced that there isn’t a more concerning agenda at play especially after President Joe Biden plans on allocating a whopping $80 billion to the IRS to add 87,000 new agents over the next 10 years.
The Government Accountability Office also purchased 3,282 pistols, 621 shotguns, and more than 3 million rounds of ammunition in 2018.
“Are they going to have a strike force that goes in with AR-15s already loaded, ready to shoot some small-business person in Iowa?” Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asked last week.
Also, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced the Disarm the IRS Act in July to prevent the buying of ammunition.
“They are arming up the IRS like they’re preparing to take Fallujah,” Gaetz said, the Post reported.
Despite growing concerns over who will be carrying a gun and when deadly force would be required, according to an IRS’ 2021 report, only the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) division carries guns, targeting drug gangs, money launderers, cyber crooks, and scam artists.
The IRS agents are not going after everyday Americans for tax audits, but suspected criminals, according to a current IRS CI member — one of 2,046 such agents.
“I don’t believe most people realize how much these agents are engaged in law-enforcement activities,” member Ryan Corrigan, who recently released his book “Special Agent,” told the Post.
“The agents are involved in a lot these days: Cryptocurrency fraud, terrorism, international money laundering. Any time you make a felony arrest there’s an element of danger to it.
“You may run into somebody who’s armed. It’s better to have a weapon in case you need it.”
