Guns move south, as drugs move north

[CHIMO]

The attack by the Los Zetas drug cartel on Jaime Zapata on Feb. 15 was the most high-profile killing of a U.S. special agent on Mexican soil in 25 years.

News that the murder weapon came from a dealer in Mr. Zapata’s home state of Texas reveals how the cross-border gun trade is undermining continental security. The implications of lax U.S. gun laws in equipping an army of criminals should also be of great concern to Canada.

Mexico is a transit zone for drugs destined for the U.S. and Canada. Meanwhile, an “iron river” of weapons flows south from the U.S. While Mexico has very restrictive gun-ownership laws, U.S. gun retailers – there are 3,800 in Texas alone – are arming Mexico’s drug traffickers. Ninety per cent of all weapons seized from cartels, and sent for tracking to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, come from the U.S. Many are acquired through “straw purchases” – buying a gun for someone who is prohibited from owning one.

In Mr. Zapata’s case, three American men face charges for allegedly buying weapons on behalf of Los Zetas. Mexican authorities have arrested a dozen members of the gang, who say they mistook Mr. Zapata’s dark SUV for that of a rival cartel.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/guns-move-south-as-drugs-move-north/article1927416/

[villager]

1. Is the phantom unrec from the "thou shalt speak no ill of any gun" crowd?

n/t

[friendly_iconoclast]

3. Maybe they unreced due to the glaring "90% of guns" canard.

Unless and until the unreccer steps forward, we'll never know.

[friendly_iconoclast]

2. I liked one comment about the G&M article:

blue man
9:42 PM on March 2, 2011

Your repeating of the party line doesn't make it true. Sorry, but you obviously haven't been paying attention to the news. Hear about Project GUNWALKER? The BATFE is implicated in actively funneling several THOUSAND guns in the hands of the Zeta's and their ilk. Why aren't you reporting on that? How about the FACT that you can't buy RPG's, grenades, and FULLY AUTOMATIC weapons at your local US gunshow? Did you know that? Why aren't you reporting that? So where are the Zeta's getting those? Er....how about the MEXICAN military. Don't be a shill for the left wing gun grabbers. Just do what your supposed to do and report the TRUTH.