Mexican Militia Routs Drug Cartel

Potentially interesting. The Templars Drug Cartel accuses the militia of being a proxy force for a rival drug cartel, in which case this is just more of the same. However, if this is actually a collection of citizens unconnected to the drug trade and cartels, who have armed themselves, and are taking on and in fact defeating the cartels. Than I must say this is a beautiful thing. And in fact is how many governments are initially established.

They’re being labeled vigilantes. However, if they are an en masse of the communities themselves, than they are far more akin to a militia. And one must remember, we’re talking about a region where the rule of law has essentially collapsed.  So in no way would I consider such a group vigilantes. Vigilantes operate outside of the law, if the law is not there…is it really vigilantism?

“Towns began to form vigilante forces in February 2012, saying they were fed up with the local police’s inability or unwillingness to stop the cartel’s murders, kidnappings and extortion rackets.”

That sounds like a militia to me…

http://news.yahoo.com/mexican-vigilantes-seize-drug-cartel-bastion-220248151.html

Now, how about the U.S. give these folks some assistance (no, I don’t mean more guns run across the border). I mean ending the drug war, eliminating the financial base of these violent cartels.

‘No more weapons’ billboard

“The best way to do this is to stop the flow of automatic weapons into Mexico,” …
http://news.yahoo.com/no-more-weapons-billboard-placed-us-border-053553960.html

Well, in that case talk to the BATFE. As very few of us Americans have access to or the money to afford automatic weapons in the U.S. All automatic weapons made since 1986 have been prohibited.

However, our military and police have quite a few. As I recall, we gave you several million dollars in aid and arms to help you combat the cartels. Sadly, the reports say most of those weapons we gave you fell into cartel hands.

I understand you have a problem. It’s been a long time growing. But when the cartels are using fully automatic rifles, grenades and rocket launchers – they didn’t get those from American citizens conducting straw purchases.

Mexican Guns…north or south?

Most of Mexico’s heavy weapons coming from South America.

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=390473&CategoryId=14091

Courtesy of The PJ Tatler

Thoughts…

I found it interesting to note that handguns was a different matter. Most were from the U.S. In the world of firearms, rifles are for attacking. Handguns are far more defensive weapons. They’re short, close and up personal use. They’re easily carried and concealed for availability where you don’t expect any need.

I’d wager that a lot of those are people simply afraid for their lives due to the unstable nature of certain regions of Mexico.

The PJ Tatler also links to statistics that show that only 3,840 of the some 30,000 firearms confiscated in Mexico in 2008 were actually traceable to the U.S. (That’s 10% not 90%.) And as many of us bloggers have pointed out, why would cartels spend $1,000+ on a semi-auto AR and smuggling it into Mexico when they could simply buy an AK for $200. Just bad economics…

Mexico and guns

We’ve heard it touted, all of Mexico’s problems are due to American guns – the drug cartels, government corruption, etc not bearing any blame. We see photos of the hundreds and thousands of seized arms (including grenade’s – although I have yet to find a U.S. firearm dealer selling those).

Often we see the AR-15 touted as the problem American gun sold to Mexico drug cartels.

Today in Jaurez, Mexico there was a mass shooting. This was organized. Cars blocked the road and surrounded the home before forces raided the house killing 13 and injuring a dozen more. Over a 100 casings of 7.62×39 were found at the site. But I found this quote from the article most fascinating.

“The AK-47 — known in Mexico by its slang name of “cuerno de chivos,” meaning “goat’s horn,” in reference to the gun’s banana-shaped clip — is the weapon of choice for drug cartels.”

Not the U.S. made AR-15s, but rather the cheap, readily available from any black market, AK-47 is the weapon of choice. The rifle for which millions have been made available via former eastern bloc nations and China.  Available in bulk discounts from your local black market.

Frankly, I and many others, are convinced that the majority of AR-15s siezed by Mexican officials can probably be traced back to the same rifles the U.S. government sold to Mexican officials.

Obama blames U.S. guns in Mexico

Washington times re-iterates much of the myth but if you actually stick through until page two they do a fairly decent job of mentioning the opposition viewpoints. Quoting Fox News statement that the U.S. is responsible for less than 17% and not 90%.  It’s a step in the right direction.  

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/17/obama-blames-us-guns-in-mexico/

Some additional thoughts…

“U.S. to provide money and equipment such as military helicopters, and to impose tougher restrictions on guns.”

Ironically, many of the guns the drug cartels are using came from the last time we gave the Mexican government military aid and arms.  

We trained elite units to combat the drug cartels and entire units switched sides to the drug cartels.

In fact, Mexico has been experiencing extremely high levels of desertion from their military. Thousands and thousands of soldiers deserting every year. Often with their arms; only to be employed by the drug cartels.

“Regarding the 1994 ban on certain semi-automatics”

This would have little effect on the situation in Mexico.  As many of the firearms are not semi-automatic versions but fully automatic battle rifles. 

The drug cartels are not weilding AR-15 rifles. They’re wielding fully automatic M-16/M4 rifles, rocket propelled grenades, mortars and more. These are not weapons you can just pick up at any mom & pop gun dealer. 

Yes the media seems to continue to perpetuate the myth that Mexico’s problems of violence are America’s fault.

“CIFTA, the small arms trafficking treaty”

The U.S. hasn’t ratified this treaty though many South and Central American governments have. But this has done little to stop the influx of fully automatic battle rifles entering Mexico from South America.  

It’s also rather ironic that while conservatives have been begging for border control for several years now. That this has been a policy rejected by most of the Democrats. And yet it would aid in the reduction of drug, firearm and illegal immigrant traffic.  Instead, they want to take away the rights of citizens.  

I fully object to illegal aliens illegal activities being protected, while my Constitutional rights are infringed and restricted.

Fox News debunks the “90% myth” regarding Mexican drug cartel arms.

A great article addressing the present crisis in Mexico and arms and how America factors in…

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/04/02/myth-percent-guns-mexico-fraction-number-claimed/

The reality is that only 17% of the arms found at Mexican crime scenes have been traced to the U.S. 

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(Wait, where can I get rocket propelled grenades? I never seen grenades in any of the shops I visit. Granted, the Mini14 in the picture did come from the U.S.)

So where might the Mexican drug cartels be getting their weapons? I’d wager the following are the real exporters of arms to Mexico.

• South America (Hugo Chavez has a nice factory)
• China manufactures AKs and we all know, China sells EVERYTHING cheaper.
• Ex-Soviet Bloc nations have thousands of surplus arms.
• U.S. Government – We gave them millions in aid, training and arms a year or so ago.  Entire units we trained switched sides and brought their equipment and arms with them. I’d wager that if your traced most of the U.S. arms that a high percentage would actually trace to the serial numbers from the U.S. aid package to Mexico.
• Mexican Army – Over the past 6 years over a 150,000 soldiers have deserted. Many, if not most, taking their arms with them.

Question I’ve had is  “Why would they come up to the U.S. and spend $800 on a semi-automatic AK-47 when they can purchase the fully auto versions for probably half that through the black market.” 

I’ll believe that a lot of the semi-auto ARs and other rifles bought in the U.S. and shipped down to Mexico are actually from the Joe-average man wanting to defend his family and/or the average scum/criminal and not the drug cartels.

I also think it’s interesting that these arms are recovered from crime scenes. While I know there have been a number of major busts against the cartels. I am wondering if what we’re seeing is the arms of the losers. The people who fell on the wrong side of the drug cartels and who could only arm themselves with semi-autos purchased over the border. Facing cartel members with fully automatic rifles.

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The Shooting Wire ads their commentary as well…