"Mexico Says Drug Gangs Buy Arms Like 'Candy' in US"

[billbuckhead]

Mexico Says Drug Gangs Buy Arms Like 'Candy' in US

Sat Jun 26, 2004 06:10 PM ET

"Mexico is particularly concerned about arms like the Barrett .50 caliber rifle. he said. The semi-automatic weapon, dubbed "The Widowmaker," can penetrate armored vehicles and aircraft.

----------------snip---------------

A Barrett .50 caliber was among a number of assault weapons seized in a raid that captured the alleged main hit man of the infamous Arellano Felix drug gang in the border city of Tijuana on Thursday."

<http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=5521713>

[NMDemDist2]

1. the hell with our jobs, they want our guns! n/t

[billbuckhead]

3. American gun laws are laughing stock of the world for terrorists&criminals

I noticed the Libs are still in control in Canada after the gunwackos huffed and puffed.

[slackmaster]

34. TERRORISTS!

The Bush Administration is right. Run for the hills!

:freak:

[Dagaz]

2. hmmm they don't register?

dang, and here I thought criminals obeyed the law.

[OpSomBlood]

5. We all know Mexican drug gangsters...

...always submit to background checks and waiting periods at legal gun shops like you and me.

They never purchase illegal weapons illegally on the black market...that would be illegal, and we know that violent criminals never do illegal things.

Except when they are being violent criminals, of course.

[OpSomBlood]

4. .50 cal is an "assault weapon" now?

Better tell Senator Feinstein to re-write the legislation! She should throw in the "assault revolvers" for good measure.

[slackmaster]

10. Barrett M82A1 is an "AW" under California law

Which that means NOBODY EXCEPT POLICE AND MILITARY CAN BUY ONE HERE.

Not to mention the fact that ALL transfers of firearms have to go through a dealer, and the buyer has to present a valid California Driver License or state-issued ID card, neither of which are available (at present) to people who are not legal California residents. Of course our state legislature is trying very, very hard to do what it believes is in the best interests of pandering to the Hispanic voters of the state by making driver's licenses available to illegal aliens, as they did last year in a move that may have been the last straw in Governor Gray Davis' tenure in office. Now the Governator wants to do the same thing, but NOBODY seems to want to deal with the fact that a driver's license is tantamount to a license to buy a gun even if you aren't legally entitled to do so.

Or the fact that nobody who is not a legal US resident can buy a firearm anywhere in the USA from anyone legally.

I am SO sure the market is flooded with lightly used $8,500 Barrett rifles. No doubt there are three or four for sale in the newspaper classified ads every day in a typical major US city. :eyes: It must be hard for the gangsters to decide which color to buy.

billbuckhead, your story fails the smell test. If the Arellano Felix mob is buying firearms in the USA they sure as shit ain't doing it legally OR in California.

And the whole idea of gun phobics complaining about weapons LEAVING the country is kind of mind-boggling.

[candy]

6. Vicente should take care of his own country first--

before criticising ours.

His own people can't get out fast enough!

[OpSomBlood]

7. MrBill posts back to back:

One thread about Mexico telling us what our gun laws should be, another thread about Canada telling us what our gun laws should be.

Perhaps they should first seal their own borders, then come to us with ideas.

[T Town Jake]

9. "MrB" 's contention seems to be...

...that unless and until all "gun" crime has been eradicated everywhere, no one should be able to own a firearm anywhere. Same old hobby-horse shit being ridden, different day.

[JayS]

8. If Mexico would put as much effort into patrolling their borders...

...and controlling what comes into and flows out of their country as we do, then they will have room to talk.

[slackmaster]

11. This story is bugging me and I can't sleep

For anyone who has never taken a road trip in Mexico within the last 20 years or so, I have several times and I'd like to share with you a taste of what it's like being a US tourist on the road there.

Expect to get stopped at least once every 50 kilometers and questioned by well-armed Mexican federal police. At every checkpoint you will be asked the same question in broken English: "Any drugs or guns, señor (or señora)?" If you give them any guff or if they have the slightest inkling that you might be carrying some weed or a firearm your car or if they are in a bad mood all of your belongings will be rifled with savage efficiency.

If you are legally carrying a rifle or shotgun because you are on a hunting trip they will carefully scrutinize the stack of paperwork you are required to carry as proof that you jumped through every bureaucratic hoop and paid every fee. They will inspect your weapon and you will have to show receipts for your ammo. If they catch you with an improperly declared firearm or any ammunition that you cannot prove was bought in Mexico, you will go to jail. If they catch you with any illegal drugs including prescription medication for which you do not have a US or Mexican prescription, you will of course go to jail.

Mexico doesn't have a problem with drugs or guns from the USA. Mexico has a problem with organized gangs of violent criminals to whom the laws and rules do not apply. The Arellano Felix gang is a multi-billion dollar corporation with its own boats, airplanes, airports, and paramilitary soldiers who are armed with whatever the fuck kind of weapons they want. I am not even slightly impressed with this whining about ONE Barrett rifle. We're talking about a major Mafia that uses machineguns and explosives, a group that has been kidnapping, torturing, and murdering Mexican police and political officials, and an occasional US DEA agent, with impunity for decades.

[PopeyeII]

12. Media and the First Ammendment

Under the first ammendment the media has no responsibility to tell the truth or research facts.

"Say Anything to make a profit" should be the corporate slogan.

[slackmaster]

14. I got some sleep finally

One final comment:

I will concede that there is SOMETHING wrong with a system where international drug traffickers can supposedly get any kind of firearm they want in the USA while I, a citizen with no history of crime, outstanding credit, a flawless driving record, etc. cannot.

[OpSomBlood]

15. Fantastic point.

:toast:

Drug lords and terrorists think it is exceptionally easy to buy firearms (including machine guns) in the U.S. Law-abiding citizens are hassled every step of the way.

[slackmaster]

23. The only solution offered by the anti-RKBA crowd is to hassle us MORE

Yeah, that will fix the problem.

:eyes:

[JayS]

28. One big problem is that the international drug traffickers have...

...some serious cash. It is getting to where cash seizures well into the millions don't even get much attention down here anymore.

[MrBenchley]

13. Funny...

We have been inundated with "enthusiasts" telling us that the Barrett .50 doesn't pose any menace to the public whatsoever...guess we can see what a pantload THAT was.

But then that's the RKBA cause...rotten from stem to stern.

[billbuckhead]

16. If terrorist were bringing weapons in from Mexico or Cuba we would go craz

Just business as usual for the whoring hypocrites in the gun lobby.

[OpSomBlood]

17. Please show me where anyone here is in favor of illegal gun importation.

Terrorists and drug dealers don't seem to have any problem getting machine guns in the U.S.

But law-abiding citizens are subject to background checks and waiting periods. Why is it easier for a criminal to get a gun?

[MrBenchley]

19. Gee, op, look up the damn thread...

None of our trigger happy "enthusiasts" seems to have problem one with illegal importations by Mexicans or Canadians...mostly what they seem to be pissing and moaning about is that they want to arm themselves like a drug lord too.

[OpSomBlood]

21. Their inability to control their own border is not my problem.

And if I want to "arm myself like a drug lord" that's not your problem.

[MrBenchley]

31. So in other words...

that pious bleating about "no one here is for illegal importation" is exactly what I said it was...

I want to "arm myself like a drug lord""
Yeah, so many decent Americans do (snicker)"

[OpSomBlood]

32. I put it in quotation marks to reflect your false interpretation.

I own a rifle and three pistols. If you want to classify me with Mexican drug lords because of it, that's your prerogative.

[MrBenchley]

38. Put it anywhere you want, op...

Ask me next for a suggestion (snicker)

[OpSomBlood]

39. Where do you suggest?

And I'm not exactly clear on what "it" is.

[billbuckhead]

42. All these Walter Mitty's want to play Pablo Escobar

Every other advanced nation has solved their gun homocide problem (relative to America's absurdly high homicide and gun homicide problem) with gun laws. Mexico is trying to better for it's people and the NRA and American gunsickos are standing in their way. Nothing less than enablers of terrorism and crime, like their Republican fellow travelers.

[JayS]

46. No, if Mexico wanted to solve its problems it would allow a...

...true middle class to emerge and flourish. Right now it enjoys all the violence that poverty provides.

I'd glad to see that you are starting to recognize Mexico as advanced though. They really don't still live in caves, honest.

[MrBenchley]

48. Exactly so...

You'll notice it's Mexico's fault, it's the media's fault, it's the drug war's fault, it's the fault of those advocating gun control...it's everybody's fault Mexico is flooded with guns EXCEPT the fault of the scumbags actually flooding Mexico with guns.

"Nothing less than enablers of terrorism and crime"
Hell, take a look at the "decent" thread and its linked GD thread. Our "enthusiasts" are itching to shoot their fellow citizens for some "higher purpose."

[OpSomBlood]

50. How exactly is the NRA affecting the way Mexico governs itself?

If they secured their own borders, they wouldn't have to worry about our guns coming in and we wouldn't have to worry about their immigrants coming in.

But considering that you agree with MrB that I am arming myself "like a drug lord," I doubt that reason has much of an effect on your opinions.

Personally, I see it as a remarkable coincidence that the drug lords arm themselves like me.

I also sometimes wear red shirts. That doesn't mean I'm emulating Tiger Woods.

[billbuckhead]

30. But in Canada and Mexico they do have trouble so they come

over here to get their weapons. America's weak gun regulation and enforcement enables crime and terror. Gunwackos make poor neighbors.

[slackmaster]

33. TERROR again!

The Bogeyman of the new century.

:eyes:

[JayS]

36. We have had seizures of fully-automatic weapons at the...

...border checkpoints here recently...so I don't think it is too terribly hard to get ahold of a common firearm in Mexico if you really want one, especially given that Mexico shares borders with other countries.

[slackmaster]

49. Just to be clear...

You mean seizures of fully automatic firearms being smuggled INTO the United States of America FROM Mexico.

Correct?

[JayS]

52. Correct. These incidents made the AP news wires and...

...the reporters gave enough clues to assume that the reporters knew the difference between a semi- and a full-auto. They were called machine guns but no indication was given that they were submachine guns or true machine guns. No hint as to the country of origin was given, just that they came through Mexico. I have a cynical theory that they were arms we shipped out to various Latin American allies that got shipped back to us.

That have been other caches of either machine guns or submachine guns captured in the last couple of months and the reporters probably knew what firearms they were talking about; this is Texas after all. :)

None of these were big stories though. Stolen propane in a city where propane is commonly stolen made national headlines. Go figure.

[texengland]

61. they come here for guns

You know that for a fact do you? What kind of shady buisness are you running?

[slackmaster]

18. EEEEK, TERRORISTS!

What color of alert are we on today?

:eyes:

[OpSomBlood]

20. I think there should be an olive alert...

...to match the skin color of the people we're supposed to cower in fear of.

[slackmaster]

22. Around here it would be Brown Alert

Those Mexican narco-terrorists and illegal aliens.

:eyes:

[TX-RAT]

24. Mexico Says Drug Gangs Buy Arms Like 'Candy' in US

They're damn near legal tender in the drug business. All to often stolen and legally purchased guns are traded for drugs in Mexico.

[slackmaster]

25. US Says Drug Gangs Buy Drugs Like 'Candy' in Mexico

If they couldn't get drugs so easily they would have neither drugs nor cash to exchange for guns.

:freak:

[OpSomBlood]

26. If drugs were legal, these criminals wouldn't have the money to buy guns.

n/t

[TX-RAT]

29. I'm not totally against the legalization of drugs.

I've always felt, you have to have a victim to have a crime.

[JayS]

35. I'm not thrilled about the prospect of the legalization of drugs...

...but the way we are running the drug "war" now is producing plenty of victims and much of our violence problems. Throw a legal drug, alcohol, into the mix and you've just about covered all bases in the violence game.

As for marijuana, just de-codify it. I'd much rather deal with someone that is stoned than drunk.

[TX-RAT]

37. Throw a legal drug, alcohol, into the mix

In my opinion it's the most destructive drug of all. DUIs and alcohol induced domestics take up about 70% of our officers time. It's amazing how many times we've had to respond to the same residences. We call them our 911 regulars. They get drunk and fight every payday.

[JayS]

40. Yup, our worst drug we spend the least "anti-drug" money on...

...and our least dangerous drug (pot) we spend the most on. Something is wrong with that picture.

One police officer I know always jokes about getting a stamp for his reports that says "alcohol was involved" so his paperwork will go faster.

[OpSomBlood]

41. I've never met a violent pothead.

On the other hand, a non-violent drunk is rather rare.

[TX-RAT]

43. "I've never met a violent pothead

Neither have i. But I've sure had to fight a bunch of drunks. Interestingly enough we've always went light on Marijuana possession. Usually when we find kids out in the county smoking dope, we call their parent and have them come out and pick them up. Nothing seems to do as much good as having Mom and Dad come pickup their child at 2:00am. Most parents are pretty appreciative.

[OpSomBlood]

44. When I used to bounce at a busy nightclub...

...I actually didn't mind the really intoxicated ones. They had more "liquid courage" but significantly less motor control. Applying a little Aikido to the situation usually had them seeing things my way pretty quickly.

The ones I worried about were the girlfriends. I was kicked, scratched, bitten, punched and slapped by angry girlfriends of the guy I was ejecting.

[TX-RAT]

45. It's amazing what one well placed blow to the solar plexus can do.

Just remember to stand back. Never take your eyes off the girlfriend, they'll go after you damn near every time.

[OpSomBlood]

47. That's word-for-word what I would tell the new guys...

"Never take your eyes off the girlfriend."

[TX-RAT]

51. Learned that the hard way.

Responded to a domestic. When i arrived, she was bleeding and beat up pretty bad. In the process of trying to cuff him, i received a kitchen knife in my left side, courtesy of her. Thats the only time i was hospitalized for a on the job injury, it penetrated my left lung.
He got 30 days in county
She got 15yrs in state.
I couldn't laugh or cough for a month.

[slackmaster]

53. Bummer

I hope you can laugh about it a little now, or at least cough.

I have a female friend who got the living crap beaten out of her by her ex-boyfriend's fiancee several months ago. The local DA has lost the paperwork in the shuffle, so no assault or battery charges have been filed and no permanent restraining order issued.

[TX-RAT]

54. DA lost the police report?

Should be able to retrieve from the PD. Should be more than 1 copy. She should be able to get the restraining order issued herself. Is she willing to file a complaint herself or does she fear retaliation.

Some DAs are not very coperative. Might talk to the judge.

[slackmaster]

55. She had a TRO and it expired

In absence of a conviction or even an indictment the judge was not willing to issue a permanent RO. The system is screwed up here. Some people think there may have been some kind of collusion somewhere. There was more than the initial police report lost; I'm sure THAT part could be recovered.

[JayS]

56. I've never met a violent pothead either but I have met some...

...that might kill for a burrito. :)

The police in my county are cool about pot also. If you get busted for marijuana possession here....you REALLY did something bad. Now if you go one county over....

[TX-RAT]

57. Never seemed right

To give a kid a record for doing something i used to do when i was in school and the army. I'd lot rather see them face the wrath of mom or dad at 2:00am in some caliche pit out in the county. Plus the look on the kids face when they have to pour out their bag and grind it into the ground. Priceless

[JayS]

58. That would be funny. One officer here dumped the pot...

...from the plastic baggie, held the bag out to the offender, and said "you recycle?" Classic!

I notice you are in Texas. Any idea what politician is screwing up the roll out of the change from making minor possession something for a medical court instead of a criminal one? Someone is and I am trying to find out who.

[TX-RAT]

59. Not familiar with it.

[JayS]

60. I'll track down the info later and start a thread on it. n/t

n/t

[TX-RAT]

27. No argument there.