Posted on 08/26/2010 4:09:50 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Amid Mexico's escalating drug violence, grenades have become the latest weapon of choice used by drug gangs, with many of the grenades of Cold War vintage and manufactured in the U.S. or Eastern Europe, according to a recent Washington Post story.
So on hearing that a grenade which wounded at least 15 people was detonated in a nightspot in Puerto Vallarta, a destination once popular with tourists from the U.S. and elsewhere before the surging violence, it was easy enough to assume that someone had rolled a grenade into the bar as part of the cycle of attacks and revenge.
But NPR's Jason Beaubien reports for the network's radio newscast that the governor of Jalisco state says it was an accident.
JASON: The governor of Jalisco, Emilio Gonzalez Marquez, says the grenade went off by accident.
Speaking on local radio, the governor said some young people had brought grenades into the bar "Pink Cheladas" just off the tourist strip in Puerto Vallarta.
One of the young men was carrying a bucket of beers and accidentally tripped the explosive, according to the governor.
No one was killed in the explosion but at least 4 people had to have their legs amputated...
Grenades have become a common weapon of Mexico's drug cartels. This week there have been several grenade attacks in the northern industrial city of Monterrey.
Gov. Gonzalez says the police can't patrol every bar and nightclub... and it's up to bar owners to make sure weapons aren't allowed inside. Maybe a guy with a bucket of beers did trip and set off the grenade though it would seem to pay to be skeptical about this explanation. My understanding of how time-delay grenades work is that you have to pull the safety pin which allows the striker lever to be released before you throw it.
If grenades were so easily exploded by bumping etc, then they would be a lot more dangerous for troops to carry around than they actually are.
Maybe theres' a grenade expert out there who can tell us about the plausibility of the governor's version of events.
In any event, I don't think it's going to give people, especially tourists but Mexicans too, much comfort to hear the governor call this describe what happened as an "accident."
I just hate it when I misplace my gernade in a Mexican bar.
Exactly. The violence in Mexico is caused by lax gun show rules in the USA. Anybody can walk up and buy hand grenades.
/s
Heck of a job there, Speedy. Heckuva job.
KABOOM!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Still Laughing my a$$ off !
Still Laughing my a$$ off !
I do remember an incident in an Officer’s Club in Cam Rahn Bay where somebody threw a grenade into a fish tank behind the bar. It cleared the place until it was discovered that the pin hadn’t been pulled.
Very interesting. It is now officially everywhere in Mexico.
Where is the picture of Looty with a
bucket of grenades.
How’s that timeshare working out geniuses?
CNN is reporting the young men were actually going to play "Hot Tamale", with the grenades. The reporter explained after the bucket of beer is drank, the patrons stand around and toss grenades into the empty beer bucket. Similar to American basketball.
It's a very innocent game played by hard working Mexicans and is not considered violence.
The grenades went off by accident while the patrons were playing "Hot Tamale", a popular new Mexican bar game. Standing in a circle, they're tossed around then thrown into empty beer buckets for extra points, which can be used for price off on drinks.
And then you go back to the bar to pick it up, but someone else left THEIR grenade their too and you can’t tell which one’s yours. Both of you end up laughing while looking for distinguishing marks to help you identify your own grenade...and you’re running late to catch your flight but the other grenade owner seems like such a nice person that you don’t want to be rude. Then you really wish you could shove your own grenade back in your pocket and run out of there....
Mexican Beer Pong !
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