Fox Business host Lou Dobbs on Monday repeated a conspiracy theory pushed by fringe conservative websites like Alex Jones’ Infowars, that the federal government was “arming up” while trying to disarm U.S. citizens.

During an interview with National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre, Dobbs explained that “the gun owners are going to be the victims here.”

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“At the same time, we’re watching — inexplicably, without any voice from the Department of Homeland Security — we’re watching the purchase of another 7,000 AR-15-like rifles. We’re watching 2 billion rounds of ammunition, principally .40 [caliber] and 9mm. We are looking at the purchase of 2,700 light armored vehicles in the midst of — at least, allegedly — 2,700 of those vehicles.”

“What in the world is going on?” Dobbs exclaimed. “As the Department of Homeland Security seems to be armoring up, and the [Obama] administration is trying to disarm American citizens.”

LaPierre agreed: “You’re going to end up — if these politicians get their way — where all those that have taxpayer security are going to be protected and those that have body guards will be protected and the criminals will still have whatever they want. And the average law-abiding American is going to be the least-capable person in society capable of defending themselves. I mean, that’s where all this is leading.”

“It’s very unlikely that it would be a calm matter to have absolutely no guns in this country,” Dobbs warned.

As Media Matters noted on Tuesday, Dobbs seemed to be repeating allegations made on the conservative Gateway Pundit blog and Alex Jones’ Infowars website, that “Obama DHS Purchases 2,700 Light-Armored Tanks to Go With Their 1.6 Billion Bullet Stockpile.” Jones has also pushed a similar conspiracy theory on his radio show.

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A statement from the Defense Department has clarified that the light armored vehicles had been purchased for the U.S. Marine Corp. And an Associated Press report has explained that the Department of Homeland Security made a cost-saving bulk purchase of ammunition to share with “more than 90 federal agencies.”

Watch this video from Fox Business’ Lou Dobbs, broadcast March 4, 2013.

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