Posted on 08/16/2005 11:30:03 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
BROWNSVILLE — Mexico’s strict gun control laws are contributing to an illegal gun market and easier access to weapons, according to U.S. law enforcement officials that are close observers of a recent upswing in border violence.
Since January, more than 600 people have been killed in an ongoing war between rival drug cartels using high-powered handguns and assault rifles fighting for control of drug smuggling routes on the Texas-Mexico border.
Federal gun seizures show that a majority of weapons used in violent crimes in Mexico were smuggled into the country from the United States or bought through other sources in a lucrative black market.
Mexican law requires its citizens to apply for a permit from the Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA) before they can buy a handgun or rifle for hunting or self-defense.
SEDENA officials could not be reached for comment. The agency’s Web site shows applicants must submit to a background check as well as provide verification of employment and several references.
Federal agents that asked not to be identified for security reasons said the permitting process in Mexico is expensive and approval to buy a handgun or rifle (that must be .22-caliber or smaller) can take up to a year.
In the United States, the Brady law requires federally licensed gun dealers to run background checks on all buyers; the process usually takes seven days or less.
At the same time, Mexican law also prohibits gun owners from carrying their weapons in public. Texas gun owners can carry weapons if they have a concealed handgun permit.
According to SEDENA, Mexico has only two licensed gun manufacturers, compared to almost 200 in the United States.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reports the U.S. arms industry is worth $1.2 billion and exports more than 141,000 guns per year.
Limited distribution in Mexico makes legal guns and ammunition more expensive than those smuggled in from the United States.
Ignacio Corona, a Mexican and Latin American Cultures professor at Ohio State University, said those and other gun laws put Mexico’s honest citizens at a disadvantage.
“All the weapons are in the hands of the bad guys,” he said. But at the same time, Corona said it is difficult to predict how changes in Mexico’s gun laws would change the situation.
“If it was more lax,” he said, “perhaps it would be worse because there is no education in the culture on how to use the guns properly.”
schapa@brownsvilleherald.com
Si.
Mexico better build the wall, corrupt, repressive governments, such as theirs, cannot allow the serfs to be armed.
Why it gots to be a "BLACK" Market?
Do you get that, gun grabbers? Strict gun laws are leading to "easier access to weapons." So, in those places where you think there is "easy access to weapons" you should loosen gun laws.
Since January, more than 600 people have been killed in an ongoing war between rival drug cartels using high-powered handguns and assault rifles fighting for control of drug smuggling routes on the Texas-Mexico border.
Ah, the War On (some) Drugs has many benefits. Here's yet another. Not only does it keep our kids off meth, it leads to peace and harmony at and south of the border.
We finally benefit from NAFTA?
Gee, what a surprise. The crooks are armed to the teeth and honest folk are at their mercy. And THIS is a GOOD idea?
How about this headline?
"Strict drug laws creating black market for Mexican drugs, which creates the black market for US guns, which both fund organized crime and corrupt both sides of the border"
"Since January, more than 600 people have been killed in an ongoing war between rival drug cartels..."
If Mexican officials would stop accepting bribes and payoffs all the way down the line and crack down on the drug cartels, the violence could be contained.
Awfully handy blaming the US for their violence.
So a guy named Corona, holed up in OHIO, THINKS it would be difficult to predict the outcome of letting honest Mexicans defend themselves? Only to him---he should be given a pistol, sent to Mexico, and told to report later on how it all worked out. The guy should be licensed to carry a concealed brain.
"We finally benefit from NAFTA"
Great line.
kind of the catch22 Marx talked about regarding bourgeois idiots.
"Strict Mexican gun laws create unofficial anonymous protection from government agents and criminals... an interesting conflict of interest"
The bad guys (Mexican Government Narco Terrorists) , the Marxist narco terrorists, and their hired thugs and coyotes
all all carrying CHI COM AND SOVIET BLOCK WEAPONS...
These did NOT come from America....
Last week the narco terrorists were slinging chi com RPGs
through local cops homes....
These did not come from America...
Try Al Qaeda (financed by Saudi Arabia?) or Castro, Chavez
and their Chi Com buddies
Of course any LIE needed for the JBTs and their NWO string pullers and the leftie MSM to go after honest American's homeland defense weapons...
-imo
We just have to sell them guns that shoot backwards.
Black market has racist connotations. I suggest "illicit underground transactions".
Oh wait, it's Mexico. It's OK down there.
I'd like to see the breakdown on those figures. How many were smuggled in from the U.S. versus how many were bought through other sources.
SEDENA officials could not be reached for comment. The agency's Web site shows applicants must submit to a background check as well as provide verification of employment and several references.
Or simply fork over some cash.
Darn.. You took the wind outa my sails.. and the words outa my mouth...
Oh well, there was this other one...
“All the weapons are in the hands of the bad guys,” he said. But at the same time, Corona said it is difficult to predict how changes in Mexico’s gun laws would change the situation.
This is the perfect example of:
"When Guns Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Guns"..
Depending on how Mexico changed their gun laws, I would suggest that things would get really interesting down there for a while..
But after a period of time, the highway robberies would end, as the robbers started getting shot by people that want to keep their money, and their daughter's honor..
Drug dealers would find they were "no longer welcome" ...
But, the real problem, and why Mexico's Gun Laws will not change...
Mexican citizens may decide to get rid of their corrupt government...
Too Bad.. Won't happen..
I'm just doin' the jobs even the Mexicans won't do! :)
But, the real problem, and why Mexico's Gun Laws will not change...
Mexican citizens may decide to get rid of their corrupt government...
Too Bad.. Won't happen..
Maybe someday they will, but I'm not holding my breath.
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