Hey, I just thought of a new statistic that might be helpful at putting things into perspective:
100% of Mexican crime guns are used illegally by criminals.
Without exception!
What is this, some sort of search for common ground?
It is hard to believe that most ordinary N.R.A. members would not agree something must be done about the cross-border sale of war weapons that underpins the drug scourge.
Speaking only for myself, yeah, I do. It's just not the same "something" you bloomer-soilers want done, which Kurt does a nice job explaining.
And as far as this goes:
If it takes an executive order to cut the carnage, President Obama should not hesitate.You'd think people covering politics for as long as they have would be a lot smarter than that.
[Via Michael G]
A non-legislative regulation thought up by ATF isn't good enough for them, a presidential executive order might be necessary?
ReplyDeleteI'd LOVE to live in their fantasy world where Congress kowtows to the gun lobby and balks at passing even "reasonable restrictions."
Instead, I'm probably going to be living in our worst nightmare, in which people fight when there is little hope of winning because it is better to perish than live as slaves. Churchill said that. His people came out on top that time -- with lots of help from us. We can expect help from no one.
From the NYT op-ed, “If it takes an executive order to cut the carnage, President Obama should not hesitate.”
ReplyDeleteThe NYT should be on its collective knees thanking a god they may or may not wish to acknowledge that they aren’t presently doing business in Lincoln’s time. He’d have already issued a executive order to have the Times’ entire staff along with the presses and all their supplies locked up tighter than a frog’s anus for publishing the wickileaks. Mexico’s “carnage” would have been the very least of the NYT’s priorities.
Oh. That’s right, there’s a Constitutional amendment that protects freedom of the press.
[W3]
Yellow(stream) journalism at its finest. And they're too cowardly to allow comments.
ReplyDeleteI had a thought about guns crossing the border "illegally", maybe if they SEALED THE FREAKIN BORDER it wouldn't be a PROBLEM!
ReplyDeleteNational Shooting Sports Federation sez:
ReplyDelete"5. According to ATF, the average age of a firearm recovered in the United States is 11 years old. In Mexico it’s more than 14 years old. This demonstrates that criminals are not using new guns bought from retailers in the states."
But let's register them anyway.
NSSF says the regulation could go into effect NEXT MONTH.
A Without Rule of Law situation.
But I don't understand why the Shooting SPORTS Foundation cares so much. Suddenly. Maybe a photo of an over/under skeet gun accompanying a story about this galvanized them. It's a "long gun." It's over .22 caliber. No detachable magazine, but two out of three is often close enough for government work.
"...the dealers’ freedom to make multiple sales of AK-47s and other battlefield assault rifles without having to report to federal authorities..."
ReplyDeleteThat's a lie--the Times is suggesting a method of operation for dealers which is entirely fictional. The weapon's serial number would have to be recorded prior to FOPA '86 (can we just call that registering guns/owners....please?) and the buyer would have to cough up enough cash to cover a value far inflated compared to black market street price, and also pay a federal tax, revealing himself to the "authorities" in the process.
Just so we're clear on the inflated value, we're talking as much as a new car for an AK-47. It's much more likely the flow originates in Mexico and goes north. However, since the NYT is advocating duplicate legislation, why don't they send a reporter down to an ATF office is ask them why they don't just investigate multiple sales of AK-47s instead of blaming it "loopholes"?
Close down a few hundred of the military bases we have over seas and bring them home to secure our border with Mexico. Stop everything on both sides from getting here or there. People, gun and drugs come to mind first. If this country shuts down the Mexican drug criminals from getting that stuff over here. The violence will be reduced hugely in Mexico.
ReplyDeleteYou can bet if this country's greenback crashes and American citizens are in the streets red faced mad. Without question that border will be sealed. Being said, I wonder why its not sealed now.
When they say "AK-47s," it's the usual catchall term for our ordinary "sporting use" SEMI-auto, over-the-counter SKSs and AR-15s and other examples of 1880s semi-automatic technology, not high-dollar Class III selective-fire rifles. They probably consider the Ruger 10/22 a "weapon of war."
ReplyDeletePlease don't underestimate their malicious intent, or the broad brush of the proposed ATF nonlegislative regulation that would nevertheless carry the force of a real law.
Apparently illegal border-crossers including violent drug smugglers get better rules of engagement than Americans in their own homes. Border Patrol agents are apparently required to use "beanbag" or rubber bullets -- less-than-lethal ammunition -- first. It's blamed for the death of a Border Patrol agent the other day:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=240945
Actually, a number of lists of guns the Mexican Army/Marines have recovered have been released. All the lists have featured full auto AK-47's with no serial number, a high number of post Hughes Amendment full autos, including M-16's from the Mexican Army and H&K full autos that are probably from Venezuela, along with a scattering of guns that could have transited the US or were made in the US.
ReplyDeleteThe latter came to Mexico either as back-haul from the drug trade or were confiscated from Mexicans returning home with guns purchased with legal intent.
There is a great deal of solid evidence the cartels are buying full 20 foot containers of AK's from Chinese and Pakistani sources, complete with bayonets, spare mags, and military cleaning kits.
Since the Cartels control most of the ports in Central and South America, there is no problem taking containers off ships and hauling then to warehouses for breakdown.
At a reported $60 USD a pop on the dock, it is no wonder the AK is popular with the Cartels.
Stranger