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Mexican drug cartels' armament
There's been some claims from the present Administration that US firearms are going south and fueling drug cartels' wars. It is probably the case that some US handguns are being shipped south, but the serious armament of the cartels is now full-auto AK-47s, former Soviet RPGs, hand grenades and some American light antitank weapons. The sources of these are not gun shows or fun shops, but (1) central american countries such as Venezuela and the insurgent groups they support (2) the Mexican military itself (esp. the hand grenades) and (3) for the LAWs, thefts from American military bases. The last can flow south because for a $10-20 tip, you can get your car, and whatever is in its trunk, in without inspection.
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But wait, I thought Mexico had really strict gun laws . . . you mean "more gun restrictions" does not mean "less crime?"
I would guess the LAWs are also from the Mexican military - we phased those out in the early 90's (replaced by the AT-4), and given the way the military manages ammunition (I have seen an entire battalion locked down over 1 grenade), I'd be astonished if any anti-armor rockets were stolen from an American military installation. Mexican, though...
We've actually started producing new LAW's, they've proven useful for urban combat, especially with thermobaric warheads. But I agree that it's highly unlikely that many have been stolen from US military bases, the US military tends to keep pretty tight tabs on stuff like that.
I have never seen any evidence from seized arms caches showing serial number traces that go back to the United States. No one is displaying tables full of guns and ammunition that can be shown to have come from Texas, Arizona or (shudder) California through the vast networks of ant trails back into Mother Mexico. If it's that easy to get into the US, it's got to be easier to go back into Mexico.
There have been no arrests of people smuggling guns, no trials, no convictions for illegally importing arsenals of arms into Mexico, nor have there been any convictions for exporting arsenals from the United States into Mexico.
Instead, the guilty minority has been pointed out with hysterical accusations. Their guilt proven by Divine Inspiration ("I just KNOW those guns HAD to come from Texas/AZ/CA!").
"GUNS ARE GUILTY! THEY MUST BE DESTROYED! THE US 2nd Amendment is destabilizing other countries. STING THEM UP! OFF WITH THEIR HEADS! Progress shall not be impeded!"
Get ready for it. There will be a run up to this war against the 2nd Amendment that will be as sure and well-orchestrated as the one for the war in Iraq. Why, I can even see the U.S. Secretary of State getting up in front of the UN General Assembly and blaming the US for the fall of Mexico. Surely, Secretary Clinton could be as convincing on this issue as Colin Powell was on Nukes in Iraq.
Completely agree ... save for the claim that Venezuela is a Central American country.
Considering these facts, what strikes me once again about the justification posed by anti-gun rights advocates, is that facts rarely enter into their arguments. In fact, that full-auto and military gear is being used by the cartels will be used by the anti-rights folks to spin the perception that these grenades, RPGs and full auto gun are being purchased in the US at guns shows (without BG checks). Watch it happen.
You're righter than you may realize Carl in Chicago. I recalled Chavez buying thousands of Kalashnikovs and ammo and building a new AK factory in recent news. Here's the link to the story... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,199982,00.html
100,000 new AK's shipped direct from Russia, and factories to make more AK's and ammunition in Venezuela to spread revolution and crime throughout the Western hemisphere. The AK's are just the obvious - Its a near-certainty Chavez is also helping with the RPG's, grenades, etc...
What better place to start than Mexico? Tie the Americans down at their border so I (Hugo) can overthrow my neighbors (Columbia) without interference.
Gee, if there was a border between our two countries, Mexico could keep the guns out, and we could keep the drugs out that fund the cartels' purchase of weapons. And we could keep the illegals out. What a concept!
I stand corrected on my assertions above about lack of prosecution, etc. It seems that there was an attempt at prosecuting straw purchasers for 700 guns, but that was thrown out.
I just find it difficult to believe that US purchases of AR and AKs are arming an army. If that's true, it validates the 2nd Amendment as being a success instead of an anachronism.
Good point David. I have been following this for some time now. In fact there's a new story in the Rolling Stones Magazine thats seven pages on this very topic. The story is pretty well done but throws in some real BS with stating that the American gun shops are supplying the drug gangs with AKs. Of course some semi auto AK and some hand guns are getting down that way. But I don't believe they are anything more than the tip of the iceberg. Mexico's largest problem has always been the same. Criminals who control the government.
My hunch is Mexico doesn't have the ability to find new oil fields and is sucking dry what they do have. If this drug and violence thing gets the US federal government involved with US troops. It will be getting closer to the binding the US, Canada and Mexico into one ball of wax. At that point Mexico will allow the big international companies move in and run their oil business. There's a lot of natural resources in Mexico that can be mined that are not at this time. Now if only Mexico can be controlled and have its natural resources ripped off in the name of the poor starving international bankers.