U.S. Guns on Both Sides of Mexican Drug Wars
As noted in a Washington Post article earlier this week, a vicious war between Mexican drug cartels that has claimed 4,000 lives in the past year and one-half -- more than the level of U.S. deaths over the past four years-plus in Iraq -- is being fueled almost entirely by guns purchased in the United States. Most of the weapons -- which include AK-47s and grenade launchers -- are bought from unlicensed gun dealers in Arizona and smuggled back across the border.
Immigrants in, guns out -- guess which flow is drawing all the outrage?
But that's not all. The news on the flow of U.S. guns to Mexican cartels parallels plans for a new, three-year, $1.4 billion anti-drug package meant to include $500 million in aid this year alone. The funds will support the transfer of "surveillance aircraft, police-officer training, high-tech communications gear and weapons," as described in an article earlier this week in the Arizona Republic.
Here's a radical idea -- what if we re-imposed the assault weapons ban in the U.S. and imposed real regulations on unlicensed gun dealers? Might it not make it harder for the Mexican cartels to outgun the local police, and diminish the need, such as it is, for a U.S. weapons package for Mexican authorities? Just a thought.
Don't hold your breath waiting for any of the major presidential candidates to speak out on this. The mythology of NRA invincibility still reigns among mainstream Democrats and their consultants, and to the extent that Mexico is discussed it has been as a danger to the United States (those pesky immigrants, many of whom are the backbone of key sectors of our economy).
There should at least be some questions raised about this issue, in the press and by citizens organizations. If you know of ongoing work in this area, let me know, and I'll discuss it in a future post.
I've asked some questions regarding the apparent escalation in violence around the Mexico-US border for months now, and I'm still not able to find concrete answers.
For example, since these runners have automatic weapons, grenade launchers, etc., and are apparently willing to use them on U.S. authorities; why isn't our Homeland Security level up to "Orange"? Why do we not hear as much about it on a national level? What does the National Guard hope to do against heavily armed coyotes, anyway?
It seems to me, efforts to control the situation are afterthoughts.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Is est vicis muto probo.
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October 31, 2007 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
AK-47's are not produced in the US. Importation of fully automatic weapons is highly regulated. The assertion that fully automatic weapons, that are both more common and cheaper elswhere in the world, are smuggled into the US so they can be smuggled into Mexico is so illogical that it requires some evidence to support it. Is there evidence, or is this mere assertion?
The sons of the prophet are noble and bold,
and quite unaccustomed to fear.
But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah
was Abdul Abulbul Amir
November 1, 2007 8:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think that's why they call it gun smuggling - they buy them here and smuggle them there. An AK47 bought at a gun show in Arizona or Texas for 200. can easily bring more than 1200. in Mexico. The smugglers use what is called the "ant trail" in which two or three guns are smuggled in by one person in cars. The AK 47 isn't the gun of choice either, they prefer semi-automatics which can be modified.
Illegal weapons trading is the scourge of this earth and feeds terrorism and endless civil wars which are funded by blood diamonds and drugs.
November 1, 2007 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
You did not buy a fully automatic AK47 for $200. Civilian legal fully automatic weapons in the US start at over $10,000.
600 RPM is a full auto weapon. It appears that the smuggling of full auto weapons from the US to Mexico is all assertion with no evidence. Further it makes no sense to smuggle from where the item is scarce and expensive rather than from where it is cheaper and more plentiful.
The sons of the prophet are noble and bold,
and quite unaccustomed to fear.
But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah
was Abdul Abulbul Amir
November 1, 2007 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't buy anything. And I have news for you, Mexico has the among the toughest gun laws in the world. If you had actually read my post, I said they buy semi-automatics and modify them, the gun of choice is the AK 47 and the AR 15.
You can buy just about any kind of gun in Arizona, Texas and California where the loopholes in the gun laws make it easy to buy weapons that are sold as "personal collections" and the Mexicans will have buyers at shows every weekend - and that's just what they know has been sold legally and then smuggled in, you can imagine what's bought illegally and smuggled in.
November 1, 2007 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ain't Google wonderful:
The AK47: Full Auto Conversion for Dummies
By Royi “Uncle Ro” Eltink
Author of “Uncle Ro’ Extreme Survival” and “The Paramilitary Commando” series
http://www.angelfire.com/anime5/unclero/books/AK47_Full_Auto_Conversion_for_Dummies.pdf
November 1, 2007 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
The part about modification appears to be missing from the Wapo article. It should be possible to tell from serial numbers if a gun was imported to the US and modified latter. That no such evidence is offered leaves the whole story at the level of mere assertion.
The sons of the prophet are noble and bold,
and quite unaccustomed to fear.
But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah
was Abdul Abulbul Amir
November 2, 2007 6:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
There is more evidence than a WaPo story. The ATF and the Mexican govt. have traced the serial numbers on those guns confiscated and yes, they traced them to the U.S.
Illegal gun running is a huge operation around the world, why would you think the U.S. is exempt from it?
November 2, 2007 6:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
The WaPo link appears broken so go here.
ecotourism
WeGoEco.com
November 2, 2007 7:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I never said it was exempt. Only that the article offered no evidence to support the assertion. So, what percent are smuggled from the US? Of those smuggled from the US, how many were stolen? Again, no evidence only assertion.
The sons of the prophet are noble and bold,
and quite unaccustomed to fear.
But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah
was Abdul Abulbul Amir
November 2, 2007 7:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well google it.
November 2, 2007 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's all a racket, that's what Smedley
said so many years ago, war is a racket, and
he was right and the 'war on drugs' is no
exception. I think they should SHUT
the border for a year and closely observe what
happens, stand by with food on parachutes but
end all border traffic except maybe a trading
port or something. Spend all those billions
in a way that'll actually stand a chance of
doing some good instead of just perpetuating
a longstanding problem. Good fences DO make
good neighbors...
November 3, 2007 7:13 PM | Reply | Permalink