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“On weapons, there are two problems in addition to futile Mexican posturing. First, firepower is fungible. Even granting that most arms used in Mexico come from the U.S. (in fact, only the traceable ones do), there is no reason to suppose that if they stopped moving south, other sources and suppliers would not fill the void. Otherwise, the abundance of guns in countries from Brazil to Afghanistan would be inexplicable.”

Do I discern the faintest glimmer of intelligent life at TIME????

Is it POSSIBLE???

Since time immemorial, Mexicans have argued that were it not for U.S. demand for illicit substances, Mexico would have a manageable drug problem. More recently, we have also contended that absent the U.S.'s laxity on arms sales and its tolerance for the possession of extraordinarily dangerous weapons, the violence in our country would not be what it has become.

Then the Mexicans who say so are idiots. Their claim seems to be as follows:

Mexicans supply drugs and Americans buy = Americans fault

BUT.....

Americans supply guns and Mexicans buy = also Americans fault!

"Since time immemorial, Mexicans have argued...
1. That were it not for U.S. demand for illicit substances, Mexico would have a manageable drug problem.

2.More recently, we have also contended that absent the U.S.’s laxity on arms sales and its tolerance for the possession of extraordinarily dangerous weapons, the violence in our country would not be what it has become.

3.Lately our leaders have added a new gripe: Americans are hypocrites because they support prohibitionist and costly drug-enforcement policies — yet, through the specious fallacy of medical marijuana, are legalizing drugs without saying so.

Needless to say, these three points are absolutely valid, true, irrefutable ... and futile."

Wow.

With this premise there is no need to read the rest of the article. None of the points are valid, true and they certainly aren't irrefutable. I would say they are all demonstrably false and I bet I could prove it to a reasonable person. Further I would say that they are deliberate lies used to point fingers away from their failed socialist policies that created the problems they are dealing with.

“On weapons, there are two problems in addition to futile Mexican posturing. First, firepower is fungible. Even granting that most arms used in Mexico come from the U.S. (in fact, only the traceable ones do), there is no reason to suppose that if they stopped moving south, other sources and suppliers would not fill the void.
Otherwise, the abundance of guns in countries from Brazil to Afghanistan would be inexplicable.”

Gee, he ALMOST made some sense.
Too bad he left out the simple fact that only 8% of all the (illegal) “arms used in Mexico” come from the U.S.

LEGAL arms sales to the Mex. Government may be higher, although I think they make their FAL’s domestically, or get them from Argentina.

Technically arms stolen from the Mex. government may originate in the U.S., but it would be disingenuous to claim those as a percentage of the guns being smuggled in.

NONE of the RPG’s, grenades, or machine guns are coming from U.S. civilian sources.

As to the “War on drugs”, I have mixed reactions.

I despise it’s constant use as an excuse to diminish our rights.

I am fine with idiots killing themselves with overdoses, so long as they do it in the privacy of their home instead of on the public street.
Smoke all the dope you like, inject poison if you want, but if you harm me while stoned I reserve the right to retaliate.
Push drugs at my family, I reserve the right to introduce you to instant punishment, no court required.

I cannot support total legalization, I sometimes wish I could,
But total legalization would mean I could not work to stop the pushers from targeting those who I care about.