Major news outlets continue to report that the violence along the Mexican border is down. Even Juarez experienced a huge drop in the number of homicides last year. But, the media continues to convince us that the drug war is a failure. Every media report speculates that the violence is down because the cartels are now fighting in other areas. No media outlet even mentions the huge increase in military activity that we see in the border cities. The Mexican Marines, the Navy helicopters the inspection of vehicles entering and leaving major Mexican border cities are all unreported in the news! Can we 'speculate' that these efforts may be working?
The news media should be ashamed for giving comfort to the cartels and for empowering the cartels by these stories. The cartels are not omnipotent and the Mexican Government continues to win almost every single confrontation with the thugs and killers. Hundreds of cartel leaders have been jailed or killed.
Naysayers point out that the drug crimes continue so law enforcement is losing. Many suggest Mexico should stop this war on drugs. I suggest that if these people are right we must also stop arresting rapists, child molesters, bank robbers and car thieves because there will always be someone to take their place, too.
Shame on the media. There is no excuse for foreign journalists to ignore the truth. Mexican journalists have died for reporting the truth, but here is the USA our journalists remain safe. There is no excuse for not reporting the entire story.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Cartel Violence
Much of the violence attributed to the drug cartels may be simple street gangs. Although the gangs may have a link to specific cartels, each violent act is not orchestrated by the cartels.
The real problem is the steady flow of weapons from the USA into Mexico. The Mexican authorities, like their American counterparts, cannot search every vehicle entering the country. Recent arrests for arms trafficking in Acuna involved women driving ordinary looking vehciles. How do you know who to stop and search?
The Mexicans could benefit from the use of trained K-9 and technology. Mexico would also benefit with stiff prison sentences for any bribe related to illegal importation of guns.
America could simply eliminate the huge loophole that govern the sale of guns at 'gun shows' where an individual can purchase a trunk load of guns without any background check or real record. America could also reduce the guns going to Mexico with very serious penalties for non-compliance with laws related to the sale of guns. We probably do not need to fill our prisons with violators. A few hundred-thousand dollar fines and the seizure of property should be enough to curtail the illegal sale of weapons. (Oh, don't forget to revoke all state and federal licenses - including hunting - upon conviction).
It has been estimated that 2,000 guns cross Mexico's border every day. The silly rhetoric about 'guns don't kill people' needs to stop and so does the illegal sale of guns in America.
The real problem is the steady flow of weapons from the USA into Mexico. The Mexican authorities, like their American counterparts, cannot search every vehicle entering the country. Recent arrests for arms trafficking in Acuna involved women driving ordinary looking vehciles. How do you know who to stop and search?
The Mexicans could benefit from the use of trained K-9 and technology. Mexico would also benefit with stiff prison sentences for any bribe related to illegal importation of guns.
America could simply eliminate the huge loophole that govern the sale of guns at 'gun shows' where an individual can purchase a trunk load of guns without any background check or real record. America could also reduce the guns going to Mexico with very serious penalties for non-compliance with laws related to the sale of guns. We probably do not need to fill our prisons with violators. A few hundred-thousand dollar fines and the seizure of property should be enough to curtail the illegal sale of weapons. (Oh, don't forget to revoke all state and federal licenses - including hunting - upon conviction).
It has been estimated that 2,000 guns cross Mexico's border every day. The silly rhetoric about 'guns don't kill people' needs to stop and so does the illegal sale of guns in America.
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