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Gun smuggling to Mexico
The Arizona Republic carries a story on it.
I wouldn't doubt that there's some of that, but I'm told by Border Patrol friends that the smugglers prefer full auto AKs, which you don't find in the typical American gun store, nor get without a government clearance if you do. And the story goes WAY overboard with scare lines like:
"Cartel operatives flood Arizona to buy semi-automatic assault rifles, grenades, plastic explosives and rocket launchers in bulk. "
Hmmm.... I dunno about anyone else here, but I can't think of a place that sells grenades, plastic explosive, or rocket launchers, let alone in bulk. If they are getting any, there's only one place they could come from: government supplies.
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I wrote Mr Holstege and asked him to explain himself:
"Please explain this sentence from your article:
“Cartel operatives flood Arizona to buy semi-automatic assault rifles, grenades, plastic explosives and rocket launchers in bulk.”
Can you tell me where private citizens can buy bulk grenades in the United Sates? Bulk plastic explosives? Bulk rocket launchers?
If you can’t, your entire article is suspect…as a Brady Campaign fabrication. You see, the “Mexican export” threat has been pumped before by the Bradys and the rest of the anti-self-defense crowd. The line runs “Mexico is very violent. Mexico has strict gun control. Therefore, Mexican violence is caused by the availability of guns in the US. Therefore, we owe it to Mexico to shut down gun stores in the US.”
Once again: where can you and I buy “grenades, plastic explosives and rocket launchers in bulk” in the United States?"
Let's see what he comes up with.
Posted by: Andy Frechtling at May 25, 2007 07:47 PM
I thought that empty bazooka/RPG/mortar tubes could be bought without NFA approval, but not the ammunition.
Also, there's that oxymoron of "semi-automatic assault rifle".
Posted by: Alcibiades at May 25, 2007 11:39 PM
WalMart?
Posted by: dad29 at May 26, 2007 09:04 AM
>>where can you and I buy “grenades, plastic explosives and rocket launchers in bulk” in the United States?"
>WalMart?
ROFLMAO
I think that's what Michael Moore said in Bowling for Columbine wasn't it? Or was it from a bank?
Seriously though, there IS something strange about going to a bank to get guns. That's what we're up against, there's just an aura of dangerousness to guns that makes people think they're bad and that therefore getting rid of them would be good.
Posted by: MB at May 26, 2007 03:42 PM
"I thought that empty bazooka/RPG/mortar tubes could be bought without NFA approval,..."
Nope. The launchers themselves are NFA items too.
Posted by: Brad at May 26, 2007 04:40 PM
Wasn't he quoting Mr. William Newell of the ATF for all his facts ?
Posted by: SCATTERSHOT at May 27, 2007 11:14 AM
I'm obviously shopping at the wrong gun store.
Posted by: Kevin Baker at May 27, 2007 09:08 PM
