I talked to a lady just the other day that does missionary work in Mexico about the safety factor. The lady seemed to think it was safe to travel back and forth and live for extended periods of time in Mexico. She acted like I was over-reacting to media reports.
U.S. schools still take students to Mexico for sports, and other activities. I saw a high school van load of band students return from Mexico just the other day. There is no way I would consider allowing a child of mine to travel to Mexico as if nothing is going on there.
.. whoever loses his life for my sake, will find it..~Matt.16:25
“Missionary Nancy Davis has gone to Heaven as a martyr,” the online post states.”
While I don’t doubt that she went to Heaven, to call her a martyr is a stretch:
–noun
1.
a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.
Stephen was a martyr, this unfortunate woman was a victim.
Update: Press Release
Date: January 26, 2011
Authority: Ruben Villescas, Police Chief
Contact: Ruben Villescas, Police Chief
Subject: United States Citizen Shot and Killed in Mexico
On Wednesday January 26, 2011 at 12:25 p.m. a Pharr Police Officer assigned to the Pharr International Bridge observed a 2008 blue Chevrolet pick-up truck on the international bridge travelling northbound against traffic towards the U.S. Customs primary checkpoint.
Pharr Officers and U.S. Customs Agents approached the vehicle which had stopped due to traffic and contacted the male driver who had already stepped out of his vehicle asking for help. The male driver quickly directed officers to his spouse who was in the front passenger seat suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. An ambulance was immediately summoned and the victim, Nancy Shuman Davis 59 year old of Monte Alto, Texas, was rushed to a hospital in nearby Mcallen, Texas in critical conditions. At 1:54 p.m., the victim was pronounced dead at the hospital and a Justice of the Peace conducted an inquest.
The preliminary investigation indicates that the victim and her spouse were travelling on a Mexican highway about 60-70 miles south of Reynosa, Tamaulipas when confronted by gunmen occupying a black pick-up truck. The gunmen were attempting to stop them and the victims accelerated in efforts of getting away from them. At a certain point the gunmen discharged a weapon at the victim’s vehicle and a bullet struck the victim Nancy Shuman Davis on the head.
The spouse drove at high rate of speed not allowing to be stopped by the gunmen until reaching the Pharr International Bridge and getting the help.
The victim and her spouse are missionaries and travel extensively into Mexico. We will be interviewing the spouse to learn more facts to include the nature of their visit in Mexico.
The Pharr Police Department has been in contact with Mexican authorities who have confirmed that they are investigating the shooting and indicate that it occurred near the outskirts of the City of San Fernando approximately 70 miles south of Reynosa, Tamualipas. We are being assisted in the case by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), F.B.I.-Mcallen Office, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. We will be working with Mexican Authorities in the investigation providing any assistance they might require.
We are asking anyone with information on this Murder to contact Pharr Crimestoppers at 787-8477 or 800-648-8477. Mexican citizens with information can contact Crimestoppers at the same toll free # 800-648-8477 or they may also call collect 24 hours a day at 956-787-8477 .
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
* The Wall Street Journal
* LATIN AMERICA NEWS
* JANUARY 26, 2011
Alleged Gun Ring Busted
Authorities Say Smugglers Planned to Ship 700 Weapons to Mexican Cartels
By TAMARA AUDI
PHOENIX—Federal officials said Tuesday they busted a network of gun buyers and smugglers planning to ship 700 guns to Mexican drug cartels embroiled in deadly turf wars.
Law-enforcement officials arrested 17 people named in a 53-count indictment unsealed Tuesday. Police were still searching for three other people named in the indictment.
“The drug cartels go shopping for their war weapons in Arizona,” said Dennis Burke, U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona. “One of Arizona’s top exports is weapons for drug cartels.”
Dennis Burke, U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona, detailed the bust at a Phoenix news conference where some of the weapons were displayed.
The arrests come on the heels of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit Monday to Mexico City for talks with Mexican President Felipe Calderón that addressed the battle against drug violence in Mexico.
Excerpt
She was a damn fool.
"We haven’t had any aggression at that bridge and we haven’t had an incident like that at all in two days,” officer Santiago Santa María of the 8th Military Zone, said in Spanish. “Neither next to it, nor outside of it, nor in the area, we haven’t had pursuits, either".
Now that is a warm and fuzzy observation... two days without an incident. Mexican law enforcement and those U.S. citizens foolish enough to travel down there can feel secure now.
I don’t know what part of TX Pharr is in, but I was in El Paso yesterday and the man that I was due to meet was late - he said his church takes clothing, food, etc. to poor communities in Mexico and someone killed a member of his church group. This is I believe, a predominantly Korean church located in El Paso somewhere. Needless to say he was devastated. The killing was in Meexico, of course. Not sure if it happened yesterday or the day or 2 previous.
Sad world when you cannot help people that need it without risking your life.