House Republicans are launching a bold new measure to strip the IRS of all firearms and ammunition, forcing tax collectors to trade their guns for calculators.
At a Glance
- The “Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act” would prohibit the IRS from purchasing, receiving, or storing firearms and ammunition
- Under the proposal, IRS firearms would be transferred to the GSA and sold to licensed dealers
- Ammunition would be auctioned to the public with proceeds directed to Treasury for deficit reduction
- The bill would transfer tax law enforcement responsibilities to the Department of Justice
- Rep. Barry Moore claims the IRS has been “weaponized” against citizens, religious organizations, and gun owners
Disarming the Tax Man
In a move that addresses a longstanding conservative concern, House Republicans have introduced legislation that would completely disarm the Internal Revenue Service. The aptly named “Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act” seeks to strip tax collectors of their firearms arsenal and redirect those resources toward deficit reduction. The proposal represents a direct challenge to what many conservatives see as federal overreach and the unnecessary militarization of agencies whose primary mission has nothing to do with law enforcement or national security.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL), didn’t mince words when explaining the rationale behind the legislation. “The IRS has consistently been weaponized against American citizens, targeted religious organizations, journalists, gun owners, and everyday Americans,” said Moore. “Arming these agents does not make the American public safer. My legislation, the Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act, would disarm these agents, auction off their guns to Federal Firearms License Owners, and sell their ammunition to the public. The only thing IRS agents should be armed with are calculators.”
💥Proposed bill taking aim at IRS would strip agency of guns, ammo
While American taxpayers are familiar with the annual rigmarole of filing their federal taxes and realizing just how much of their hard-earned money Uncle Sam is taking away, several House Republicans are pushing… pic.twitter.com/bPVeUkRx4x
— Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) April 16, 2025
Practical Implications of Disarmament
The legislation proposes a comprehensive approach to removing firearms from the tax agency. All current IRS-owned firearms would be transferred to the Administrator of General Services, who would then sell or auction them to licensed firearms dealers. This practical solution ensures that weaponry doesn’t simply disappear into government storage but is instead redirected to legitimate commercial channels. Meanwhile, ammunition would be auctioned to the general public, with all proceeds going directly to the Treasury for deficit reduction.
“Tax Day is a great reminder that it’s time for the IRS to stop wasting our taxpayer dollars stockpiling guns and ammo,” stated Moore, who strategically introduced the bill on April 15, when most Americans are acutely aware of the tax agency’s reach into their financial lives.
Reshaping Federal Law Enforcement
Beyond simply disarming tax agents, the proposal contains significant structural changes to federal tax enforcement. The bill would transfer the enforcement of tax law to the Department of Justice, moving the IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division to DOJ as a distinct entity. This reorganization addresses the fundamental question of whether tax collection agencies should be conducting armed law enforcement operations in the first place, or whether such activities should be consolidated under traditional law enforcement departments.
The bill has gained support from several key Republican representatives, including GOP Reps. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Mary Miller of Illinois, and Clay Higgins of Louisiana. While the measure faces uncertain prospects in the Senate, it represents a significant statement about conservative priorities regarding the appropriate boundaries of federal power and the militarization of government agencies traditionally focused on administrative functions rather than law enforcement.
Growing Concerns About Armed Federal Agencies
This legislation highlights broader conservative concerns about the increasing militarization of federal bureaucracies. Reports in recent years have documented significant weapons purchases by numerous agencies that have no obvious law enforcement mission, raising questions about the necessity and appropriateness of such arsenals. The IRS bill may represent just the beginning of a larger effort to review and potentially restrict the arming of federal agencies whose primary missions are regulatory or administrative in nature.
For taxpayers concerned about government overreach, the bill offers a concrete step toward redefining the relationship between citizens and tax authorities. By forcing the IRS to focus solely on its tax collection and compliance mission rather than armed enforcement, supporters hope to create a clearer distinction between administrative functions and law enforcement operations within the federal government. Whether this proposal advances or not, it has already succeeded in bringing renewed attention to questions about which federal agencies should be armed and why.
