By The Associated Press

Published: Thursday, February 14, 2013, 9:09 p.m.
Updated: Thursday, February 14, 2013

WASHINGTON — Online rumors about a big government munitions purchase are true, sort of.

The Homeland Security Department wants to buy more than 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition in the next four or five years. It says it needs them for law enforcement agents in training and on duty.

Published federal notices about the buy have agitated conspiracy theorists since the fall. That's when conservative radio host Alex Jones spoke of an “arms race against the American people” and said the government was “gearing up for total collapse, they're gearing up for huge wars.”

The government's explanation is much less sinister.

“Strategic sourcing contracts” help the government get a low price for a big purchase, says Peggy Dixon, spokeswoman for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga.

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