Yet another "assault weapons" conflation by MSM:

[SteveM]

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/10/10/25/1025starr_edit.html

In this opinion piece Starr says:

"In the interest of national security, the United States must aggressively police its border with Mexico. But the cause of concern is not the northward flow of migrants and drugs. Rather, our focus should be on the southward flow of arms and ammunition that is fueling an explosion of drug-related violence in Mexico and that soon could threaten U.S. interests."

And elsewhere:

"About 97 percent of the arms used by Mexican cartels -- including military-grade grenade launchers and assault weapons -- are purchased at sporting goods stores and gun shows on the U.S. side of the border and smuggled south, according to the Mexican government."

Well, just what data is the "Mexican government" using? Is it that opinion from some official two-three months ago? And what of these "military-grade...assault weapons?" I mean, if they are "military grade," then they are capable of full-auto fire and NOT available in "sporting goods stores and gun shows." You will find semi-auto carbines of moderate power commonly retailed in the U.S., but then they are not "military grade." I don't know about her grenade launchers, but if she has some notion of their "source," she should tell the rest of us.

Mexico shares a porous border with Guatemala. That nation, along with Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, has a history of U.S.-backed military regimes and counter-insurgency movements (we all remember the "arms for hostages" scandal in the late 80s, don't we?). The region is full of "military grade" weapons under far-less restriction than those in the U.S. And did I mention the two long poorly-patrolled coasts of Mexico? Reasonable speculation might point toward a very powerful gun smuggling network based on the very powerful network used for drugs.

Certainly, efforts should be made to slow the smuggling of weapons to Mexico, but we shouldn't expect these efforts to be any more effective than slowing the flow of drugs north. We would all be better served if Ms. Starr were to shift her "cause of concern" back to that northward flow of drugs. The War on Drugs, Inc. is failed policy which has led to Mexico's civil instability. Ms. Starr merely calls for the same failed tool of prohibition: interdiction.

[Pavulon]

1. cough, "bullshit"

military grade. What exactly is that? The Mexican government buys PLENTY of select fire M16Ax and M4 rifles. I would bed that these are the tool choice. Coming right from their own arsenal. where do they find these idiots. 97% my left..

My sporting good store does not sell the Mk19. Maybe things are more open in socal.

Why would you use a semi auto civi replica when you can get the real Colt M4.

To stupid to share air..

[Hangingon]

2. No cough. Bullshit!

I was at a gun show this morning and I did not see one rocket launcher for sale. Why, I even took a $1,000 cash just in case. No full auto weapons for sale either. I have yet to see one in a gun store and I shop Austin gun stores.

I have read the Austin American Statesman for 40 years and its editorial board has been full of crap and apparently stioll is.

[jeepnstein]

3. Mexico...

should get control of their borders if they want to stifle the illegal arms trade. I'd be willing to bet where the main sources of automatic weapons for the drug trade is to be found. Look to the south. All those M16's we dumped on the Contras went somewhere. Look at the Mexican Army and Police, corrupt to the bone. The United States? If they are buying semi-autos from straw purchasers I can see maybe some of it coming from the States.

[virginia mountainman]

4. That is SO FULL OF SHIT,

As to not even dignify a response..

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

5. What an idiot?

How do these people keep jobs?

David

[rl6214]

6. I would imagine

Most of these weapons are coming UP from south America, not down from the United States. There just aren't any full auto weapons floating around to get down into mexico.