IRS agent accidentally shot, killed by fellow agent during training at Phoenix gun range

[Kurr]

MSN

A special agent with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is dead after being accidentally shot by another IRS agent during a training exercise Thursday at a federal gun range in Phoenix, officials confirmed.

A spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirms that an incident occurred Thursday at their gun range, which multiple federal agencies were utilizing at the time through an interagency agreement. The spokesperson said no Federal Bureau of Prisons employees were injured in the incident.

 

[1nderbeard]

I wish I felt worse about this than I do. Maybe if they hadn't just advertised about agents being willing to carry guns and shoot people I would feel sorry for them.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

First, prayers for all those involved.

This accident could have been prevented…why do IRS agents need to be armed?

 

[Ark]

Brandon down to only 79,998 new tax thugs

 

[KokomoDave]

Does this surprise anyone?

Prayers for the deceased & his family.

 

[injb]

First, prayers for all those involved.

This accident could have been prevented…why do IRS agents need to be armed?

Same reason as everyone else I presume. I feel the need to be armed sometimes so I'm not going to pass judgement on anyone else.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Same reason as everyone else I presume. I feel the need to be armed sometimes so I'm not going to pass judgement on anyone else.

OK

 

[nucular]

Same reason as everyone else I presume. I feel the need to be armed sometimes so I'm not going to pass judgement on anyone else.

Mmmm. I'm going to have to disagree here. He didn't feel the need, his overlords did and for specific reasons required for his position. We have entirely too many non-elected agencies running around arming their employees so they can press their thumbs down on us harder and harder each day. I won't shed a tear for one less.

 

[KellyinAvon]

Same reason as everyone else I presume. I feel the need to be armed sometimes so I'm not going to pass judgement on anyone else.

Armed in the course of doing their job, opposed to exercising 2A rights.

 

[Kurr]

First, prayers for all those involved.

This accident could have been prevented…why do IRS agents need to be armed?

The special agents involved in Thursday’s shooting were part of the IRS’s Criminal Investigations unit with the Phoenix Field Office. Special agents with IRS-Criminal Investigations are the law enforcement branch of the IRS and are fully-sworn law enforcement officers who investigate violations of the Internal Revenue Code, including potential tax crimes, money laundering and some bank secrecy act violations. According to the IRS, the Criminal Investigations Division is made up of 3,000 employees worldwide, with 2,100 of those being special agents.

 

[nipprdog]

The special agents involved in Thursday’s shooting were part of the IRS’s Criminal Investigations unit with the Phoenix Field Office. Special agents with IRS-Criminal Investigations are the law enforcement branch of the IRS and are fully-sworn law enforcement officers who investigate violations of the Internal Revenue Code, including potential tax crimes, money laundering and some bank secrecy act violations. According to the IRS, the Criminal Investigations Division is made up of 3,000 employees worldwide, with 2,100 of those being special agents.

......

 

[blain]

Maybe IRS agents shouldn't have firearms, only responsible citizens.

 

[1nderbeard]

Same reason as everyone else I presume. I feel the need to be armed sometimes so I'm not going to pass judgement on anyone else.

Hopefully you just forgot purple.

You feel the need to be armed for self defense. The IRS feels the need to be armed to enforce tax collections and criminal enforcement (as defined by the IRS). Big difference there. Treasury agents don't need to be armed.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

 

[rosejm]

Listen, if they can't follow the rules of firearm safety then I definitely don't want them investigating and arresting people for violations of the tax code.

 

[Jaybird1980]

I sure hope these guys are going to find all that missing money the govt can't find.

Maybe they will whip them into shape and big daddy government will finally pass an audit.

 

[manifest destiny]

Geez, it's like every bureaucracy has their own police force. NOAA, Soc. Sec.. Post Office, IRS....
Ok, maybe not every, but far too many. It is sad a man died when nobody involved was attempting to do something bad or criminal. But maybe this man's death will help prevent the unnecessary death of a civilian who forgot to pay Uncle Sam.

 

[Denny347]

Listen, if they he can't follow the rules of firearm safety then I definitely don't want them him investigating and arresting people for violations of the tax code.

Let us not paint in the same broad brushes used to vilify responsible gun owners.

 

[Denny347]

if not the IRS Special Agents, who would you like to investigate then arrest the criminals who are defrauding the IRS?

 

[manifest destiny]

if not the IRS Special Agents, who would you like to investigate then arrest the alleged criminals who are allegedly defrauding the IRS?

That's a fair question. Local/state coppers have no obligation to administer fed functions, as I understand it. So if IRS needs a badge/gun to assist in apprehending tax cheats, couldn't they use one of the existing fed police forces?
Side question, not to you specifically, I wonder how many tax cheats are so dangerous they would require armed agents be used? Or I guess, what kind of people are these IRS agents actually pursuing? Surely not the run of the mill swindler who claims erroneous deductions.