A Self-Inflicted Gun Wound

One last thing: As being aware of a military officer's son who sold drugs at a base in New Mexico some years ago, it just tells me that so long as we won't act like we're at "war," we'll just pay it lip service and make our own people pay the price. Frankly, I'm tiired of paying for the world's lack of responsibility, from Mexico to Africa to China, first with my tax dollars and now my own rights.

americans are terrorists by instinct -they thrive on violence -how can they ban guns its lie apple pie to them -they have to kill others regularly to satisfy their primitive criminal instincts -most were convicts deported from europe -it all fits

Sorry - it dropped off - if one of our wonderful repeat offenders came to call, it's best you have any sort of weapon to stop them.
P.S. I was stationed in New Mexico for a number of years, so I am well aware of transfers of military equipment to the Mexican government, including M-16's. I wish people would ask "show me the proof" before buying anything any politician tells them - oh, but wait! Isn't that the "change" we got back in November? The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Some points to think about: One, if we had any sort of weapons ban, where would it end? it wouldn't, as it would be the slippery slope argument come to life. Two, if anyone were to read the reports out there, many firearms along with drugs come from South and Central America (Stratfor.com) - in short, should there be a ban, guns would simply become a black market product, thus making the cartels richer. We have NOT stopped the drugs one iota, so what makes us think we'll stop guns from coming in here? Three, OUR government HAS provided weapons to the Mexican government through the Department Of Defense, and it's a sure bet that's how the heavy hardware (grenades, .50 cal Browinings, 40mm grenade launchers, et al) is winding up in the hands of the narco-terrorists. Holder backed off when he realized that our own government was at fault, and that Americans would find out like the AIG bonuses. Bans don't work, our border is too wide open, and we lack the political will to do anything simply because politicians don't want to piss off the Latino vote. I say that votes be damned if ANY American lives are at stake, and that the border needs to be sealed at ONCE, both North and South. If this is to be aso-called "war" on drugs, then let's fight it as one - bring home troops from overseas and defend our own borders - we can't help the world if our own country is rotting away internally with politicians who just posture. It's time our politicians got the hell out of the beltway and put their own boots on the ground in El Paso, Juarez, Lordsburg NM and such - having been there, it's sorely overdue. One last thing - I noted one coment on how it was easy to file awy a part and make an AR-15 automatic; Sorry, but that was based upon sheer ignorance (so what if a web site tells you how to do it - some websites claim Elvis is still alive, too!) of the fact that it becomes a slam fire weapon, more dangerous to the owner than the target. I have seen photos of what happens in these "modifications" and I can tell you, the shooter did not live long when the rifle experienced premature detonation fo the round, and if they did, they were missing many parts -hands, fingers, half of face. You can't get M-16 parts EXCEPT through the military, so again, it all comes back to our arming our "allies". Worst yet, our citizens have to pay for failed government policies carried out in failed failed foreign nations. I may not own an AR-15, but I would not stop a citizen with a clean background from owning one either. I have been made personally aware of three incidents where an "assault" rifle stopped an assault from happening - one was a home invasion in New Mexico, the other two were breaking/.entering, one being a rapist who will not rape anyone anymore. If you think that Law Enforcement has a repsonsibility to stop crime, better check your law on that one. they don't - you are your only defense if attacked by one of our rep

Any real assult weapons newly available in this country have come from Mexico. The drug cartels are arming the American gangs with assult and combat weapons obtained from China or from the Mexican military and police.

It does my heart good to see so many people writing in support of the 2nd Amendment. That amendment was included in the constitution as the peoples last line of defense against an out of control, tyrannical government. Ask the victims of Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and Mao if they wish they had access to (at the time) modern weapons. You naysayers that don't believe that an AR-15 has a place in home defense are absolutely wrong! I have one and that is it's primary use. It is also used for hunting (deer, cougar, and coyote) so the argument that they are not used for hunting just fell out the window. This same firearm is also used in shooting competitions.
Take a look to Mexico's southern borders if you want to see where all of the 'assault weapons' are coming from. Our Gov't has been shipping them down there for the last 40+ years!

If you think passing some laws to ban guns would stop Mexico from getting guns,you are living with your head in the sand. Big money buys anything,ask our congress. And your neighbor does need a gun . With one you are a citizen,without you are a subject. ask the oldtimers of Europe when there guns were taken away what happened. Next day a lunatic with a mustache was standung iun there living room telling them how to live their lives. Just like locks on doors keeps honest people honest, Good weapons in the hands of citizens keeps the Government honest. We don't need to pass any new laws,we don't as a nation enforce the old ones. Insist that our Gov enforce all our immigration laws as they exist and see what happens to the drug trade. This country in incapable of stoping (By choice) employers from hiring people that don't belong here,how do you think a gun law will stop anything. Yes the guns are coming from this country,being carried by whom? Go down to the border and watch how many vehicles are being inspected going south. Up until this past few weeks ,the only officers looking are not Mexican. Look at the officers from this country who are risking there lives by stepping into the middle of the southbound road to stop vehicles.

Okay so isn't it Mexico's responsiblity to police it's borders to stop guns from coming into Mexico? I don't see the Mexican police lining up at the border to stop drugs from coming into the US from Mexico? If fact the former President of Mexico said the US was responible for stopping drugs coming into the US from Mexico. And what about the illegals coming into the US from Mexico I don't see the Mexican border police trying to stop that either. Hillary and Hortor both have it wrong by blaming the US for Mexico's drug war problem.

nate31, you may want to read the Second Amendment again - it says nothing about a "right" to hunt or personal protection. The intent of the amendment is the security of a free state against tyranical central government - and the so-called assault weapon is exactly the type of arms intended for "keep and bear." While you're at it, read the Declaration of Independence, especially the part about "alter or abolish" referring to tyranical government, to understand the importance of an armed citizenry.

The hysteria over Mexico is manufactured propaganda intended to soften up the public for illegal gun laws. Again, don't take my word for it but see the article on NPR, of all places.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102390087

Nate31- as a former soldier, I am disappointed with your response. I say this because, as a member of the Armed Forces, you swore to protect and defend the Constitution. Now that you are a civilian, it seems that your backbone has turned into a chocolate e'claire. Again, one last time. The 2nd Amendment is for our protection against the Government, not each other. Use your GI bill, find a nice conservative college (if they exist anymore) and take a few politcal science classes and get up to speed on the 2nd Amendments purpose. Not trying to bash you, just trying to tell you that you are missing the point of the 2nd Amendment.

ENFORCE the THOUSANDS of gun laws on the books NOW !
1. There is NO need for any "feel good/I'm tough on crime" B.S. laws like that "Clinton Assault Wpns Ban" of the past. So called "assault weapons" are NOT high powered rifles. It's illegal in many locations to hunt deer with such a small round as is normally used in an AR-15.(you idiots would call it an M-16 even though it's not) I'm sure a BAYONET LUG, a FLASH SUPPRESSOR (oh, it's a GRENADE LAUNCHER !), a barrel with THREADS on the end of it, a PISTOL GRIP- all of these things are what HURTS people in crime. Idiots are scared by appearances- you know, the same people that will not pick up a black man in their taxi cab.
2. Look at ACTUAL statistics from LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES like the FBI, the Dept. of Justice, etc. So called 'assault weapons' are NOT the weapon of choice for the scum that are criminals. The gun ban whacko's repeat lies over and over again and the media parrot these lies endlessly. Nightly news talking about so called 'assault weapons' and the weapons shown in footage are MACHINE GUNS and NOT the weapons they are trying to ban.
3. YES, you can easily make any SEMI-AUTOMATIC weapon "slam fire" - which is very dangerous. To work effeciently and safely in automatic is NOT easily done and the criminals don't do it normally.
3. Many gun laws on the books are RACIALLY motivated from the 'bad old days' of the 60's when those uppity types started burning down the cities in protest of racial inequities. Whitey don't like them people to have guns, you know how child like they are.
I know none of the idiots who think a gun ban will make crime go away will be swayed by knowledge of the truth. You know, like in England and Australia, where all the bad guns were taken away. THEY don't have a HUGE rise in GUN crime there,do they? lol

Of course Holder backed off of this stupidity since besides the political idiocy it required him to present three things in error (i.e., proving himself either dishonest or incompetent on each):

1) No one knows for certain where those firearms originate since the Mexicans don't present the serial numbers for trace, so the 90% number is just false.

2) Automatic weapons, grenades, rocket launchers and other such weaponry are NOT generally available in US retail gun store nor at gun shows, so these cannot be coming from the US retailers -- such would be already illegal were it true in any case.

3) The Right to Keep and Bear Arms -- modern firearms -- is a right belonging to all Americans and now the meaning of the 2nd Amendment is settled law which prevent any Federal authority from infringing on it.

The general estimate is that the arms used by the drug cartels in Mexico are largely coming from international black market sources (and entering through Mexico's southern border OR are stolen from the Mexican army and other official law enforcement departments -- the US government approved transfer of military weaponry to Mexico which much more closely meets the types found to be problematic.

Close the Mexican-US border to all but properly inspected and documented traffic. And get the Mexican government to help do this from their side as strongly as we do from the northern side.

Of course Holder backed off of this stupidity since besides the political idiocy it required him to present three things in error (i.e., proving himself either dishonest or incompetent on each):

1) No one knows for certain where those firearms originate since the Mexicans don't present the serial numbers for trace, so the 90% number is just false.

2) Automatic weapons, grenades, rocket launchers and other such weaponry are NOT generally available in US retail gun store nor at gun shows, so these cannot be coming from the US retailers -- such would be already illegal were it true in any case.

3) The Right to Keep and Bear Arms -- modern firearms -- is a right belonging to all Americans and now the meaning of the 2nd Amendment is settled law which prevent any Federal authority from infringing on it.

The general estimate is that the arms used by the drug cartels in Mexico are largely coming from international black market sources (and entering through Mexico's southern border OR are stolen from the Mexican army and other official law enforcement departments -- the US government approved transfer of military weaponry to Mexico which much more closely meets the types found to be problematic.

Close the Mexican-US border to all but properly inspected and documented traffic. And get the Mexican government to help do this from their side as strongly as we do from the northern side.

Of course Holder backed off of this stupidity since besides the political idiocy it required him to present three things in error (i.e., proving himself either dishonest or incompetent on each):

1) No one knows for certain where those firearms originate since the Mexicans don't present the serial numbers for trace, so the 90% number is just false.

2) Automatic weapons, grenades, rocket launchers and other such weaponry are NOT generally available in US retail gun store nor at gun shows, so these cannot be coming from the US retailers -- such would be already illegal were it true in any case.

3) The Right to Keep and Bear Arms -- modern firearms -- is a right belonging to all Americans and now the meaning of the 2nd Amendment is settled law which prevent any Federal authority from infringing on it.

The general estimate is that the arms used by the drug cartels in Mexico are largely coming from international black market sources (and entering through Mexico's southern border OR are stolen from the Mexican army and other official law enforcement departments -- the US government approved transfer of military weaponry to Mexico which much more closely meets the types found to be problematic.

Close the Mexican-US border to all but properly inspected and documented traffic. And get the Mexican government to help do this from their side as strongly as we do from the northern side.

The only people who are stating U.S. firearms are the problem in Mexico are the antigun politicians and antigun organizations. I would like to see Mexico furnish some evidence of this. Where are the guns, what are their serial numbers? These people who want to deny me my second amendment rights are changing their story every time they talk to a reporter or to someone who appears to be ???reporting??? the news.

Every argument that can be made to ban any type of gun can be made to outlaw alcohol. More people die every year from alcohol than guns yet there is no cry to outlaw alcohol outside of Islamic nations. Why? Because we realized a LONG time ago that alcohol itself is not bad, it is how it is used by people that makes it bad. The very same principle applies to gun.

I do not drink, I don't like the taste of alcohol and I cannot see why someone would want to drink. However, you do not see me trying to pass legislation that outlaws alcohol. I respect the rights of others to enjoy something even if I do not understand why they enjoy it. Is it too much to ask for gun owners to ask for a similar respect? Sure many of you probably have never fired a gun and cannot possibly understand how us gun owners can enjoy shooting. However, just because you do not understand nor can appreciate our hobby does not give you the right to take it away from those of us who do.

The next time you drink think of how you would feel if some of the extreme people in MADD got their way and had alcohol banned. How would you feel that you were punished because the vast minority of alcohol users could not do so responsibly. That is the EXACT way gun owners feel everytime the issue of banning ANY kind of gun comes up.

In the 1920's in America you could just order a fully automatic Thompson machine gun from the Sears catalog like any other item in there with no stupid papers to fill out or anything! Yes...the department stroe SEARS I am talking about! The war on alcohol (prohibition) is what made machine guns illegal, but we did not have any real problems in America with those weapons before that.
Now the war on drugs has done more damage because we have to many people who don't think for themselves. In Vermont people can carry a concealed weapon with not even a permit required! Only people with mental problems are not allowed to carry concealed guns. This has been true for over 100 years in Vermont and they have no problems with it. Thinks about it!!!
I am a Vietnam veteran which has worked hard most of my like and I have to say that I now have very little respect for law enforcement because of their lack of respect for my personal individual rights!