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While America is finally rolling back gun control laws and liberalizing the permitting process, Mexican citizens continue their descent into gunless, lawless hell. The video above chronicles a particularly egregious attack on innocent civilians, caught in the crossfire between rival narco-terrorists. There are hundreds more involving tens of thousands of victims. And how does the Mexican government respond? El Heraldo de Chihuaha reports that the Powers That Be have launched a . . . wait for it . . . gun buyback program . . .
Because a thousand firearms were destroyed last year, seized in raids by the Mexican Army* aimed at reducing crime, the Legislature approved an agreement whereby State authorities will begin a campaign for the voluntary exchange of pistols, rifles, or other armaments with the goal of reducing the commission of crimes harmful to the people of Chihuahua.
The State Congress Commission on Public Safety stated that, in the face of statistics such as 80% of illegal arms in the state are found in the hands of organized crime groups and 20% are concentrated in family homes, they must reactivate these campaigns which in the past have allowed the public to exchange weapons, cartridges, and munitions for groceries.
The objective being pursued is the construction of a new social consciousness towards the presence of a weapon in society, in order to keep that weapon from becoming a source of insecurity, particularly if that weapon has never been registered with the Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA).
In other words, the Mexican government is targeting illegal guns owned by citizens defending themselves against the drug cartels and their proxies. In fact, the campaign to disarm Mexican citizens plays straight into the hands of the narcoterrorists, who can (and do) assassinate politicians, judges, reporters, police and anyone else who threatens their death grip on the levers of power.
It’s important to remember that Mexico’s constitution contains a right to bear arms. Fearing revolution in the 70’s, the government closed independent gun dealers and made themselves (the Ministry of Defense) the sole provider of legal firearms and ammunition. Just like the onerous gun control laws bedeviling New York City or Chicago, a de facto gun ban was born.
The subsequent obliteration of democracy and the rule of law under the cartels’ heels is no coincidence. (Note: I’m talking about Mexico, not Chicago or NYC.) Our neighbor to the south is proof positive of the old bumper sticker slogan: if you outlaw guns only outlaws have guns. And when only outlaws have guns, all hell breaks loose.
Think it couldn’t happen here? Then ask yourself this: who really benefits from gun control?
Well, of course the Mexican Government wants to round up the last of those firearms in Civilian hands. Since we have closed the Iron River from the ATF warehouses to Sinola the Cartels have to get their guns from somewhere. If the Federals grab the Civilian’s bolt actions now the Cartels can’t steal them later. It makes perfect sense. /Sarcasm.
2 weeks ago the wife and I went on a cruise that stopped in Cozumel. We took a ferry to the mainland as part of a shore excursion to a cenote (water filled cavern) and a beach party. While I did feel safe, I could not help but think of all of the violence that has been in the news lately.
At the conclusion of the tour our guide thanked us for “having faith in Mexico” and acknowledged the violence that is plaguing certain parts of the country. He also acknowledged the work being done by the police to help keep tourists like us safe and coming back.
I left with a new appreciation for the Mexican people and the problems facing their nation. I really do hope the honest people of Mexico are able to overcome the disgusting violence being perpetrated upon them by drug cartels. I hope the Mexican government gives those honest people a fighting chance.
Cozumel is one of my favorite places on Earth, and the people in and around Cozumel are delightful. Cozumel has been relatively untouched by cartel violence — but it probably won’t be long until the gang war erupts in Quintana Roo.
So what are the advantages of being a law abiding citizen loyal to the Government of Mexico?
I can see a lot of people joining the ranks of the Drug Cartels for money, employment, security, and maybe even safety.
Mexico’s Government is dysfunctional and corrupt.
I can see the Government becoming irrelevant.
Whatever happened to the Mexican Government proposal to suspend Habeas Corpus? Did that ever pass?
I think that translations’ a little off. Here’s my best effort:
*The grammar here is ambiguous – but I’m pretty sure they meant the Army was the agency carrying out the seizures. If they meant they had to seize weapons from the Army to prevent crime, then they’re well and truly f*cked.
Swapped out the Google translation for yours. Thanks for that.
My understanding from friends in Mexico, and from things I’ve read, is that their constitution actually has a provision guaranteeing the right to bear arms, but the politicians and cops have utterly ignored it. Robert asks whether it could happpen here, and there are only a few things stopping the answer from being yes. While we supposedly have a government of laws, not of men, it’s worth noting that the best laws in the world won’t do you a bit of good when you’re ruled by self-dealing, corrupt, and two-faced politicians and bureaucrats. Or said another way, by bad men.
The last two Supreme Court decisions construing the Second Amendment were 5-4. And no one seriously thinks an Obama appointee would have come down on the side of the Second Amendment.
So the next time someone tries to con you out of your vote, or tell you there’s no difference between the parties, and that you should just stay home, consider which side of the argument would be so very happy if you did.
I can hardly wait to hear your explanation for President Romney’s latest SCOTUS appointment. Then I’ll hardly be able to wait for your explanation as to why SCOTUS’ next reading of the 2nd amendment goes down 4-5.
The parties don’t matter as long as they both put forth collectivist candidates. Were one party to offer a collectivist and the other an individualist, we would have a real choice. As it is, the GOP only has one (or maybe two) individualists vying for the 2012 nomination and neither of them are considered probable winners (of the nomination).
So, no, it doesn’t matter.
It’s tempting to ask you to wait till there is a President Romney. But it doesn’t take much to point out that every justice who voted in favor of the Second Amendment in Heller and McDonald was appointed by Reagan, Bush I, or Bush II. No Clinton or Obama appointees did.
Bush I was far from a conservative or a constitutional originalist, but he appointed Clarence Thomas, who is very solid.
So you might state it this way: Vote and possibly not get all you want; or sit it out and make absolutely sure you don’t.
Being a young Mexican man in inner city Guadalajara sucks. All I own is a single barreled, break-action 12 gauge.
Maybe you could start the Mexican Rifle Association? Though I suppose we’d have to come up with the right name in Spanish.
It would be cool but the only place to legally get guns is in Mexico City, and it’s run by the army.
Question: “Think it couldn’t happen here?”
Answer: “Already has.”
By the Governor
A PROCLAMATION
“I have thought fit to issue this Proclamation to require all Persons who have yet Fire-Arms in their Possession, immediately to surrender them at the Court-House, to such Persons as shall be authorized to receive them; and hereby to declare that all Persons in whose Possession any Fire-Arms may hereafter be found, will be deemed Enemies to his Majesty’s Government.
Given at Boston, the Nineteenth Day of June, 1775, in the Fifteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, GEORGE the Third, by the Grace of GOD, of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith &c.
Tho’s Gage,
By his Excellency’s Command,
Tho’s Flucker, Secr’y.
GOD Save the KING.
12 June 1775
Hat Tip to
Clayton Cramer.com