A Self-Inflicted Gun Wound

This is another perfect example of erroneous "FACTS" being thrown around that just aren't true. Read this http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/04/02/myth-percent-guns-mexico-fraction-number-claimed/. This statistic that 90% of illegal firearms in Mexico comes from the US is just total bull. The majority of illegal weapons in Mexico are fully automatic, which ARE illegal in the US and not manufactured in the US for DOMESTIC sales. Those automatic weapons are smuggled into Mexico from some other country, and many are not even US brands or manufacturing. And this 90% "FACT" has been re-iterated multiple times. This particular statistic comes from a related, but completely different "FACT" - That when Mexican officials confiscate an illegal weapon - AND ALREADY SUSPECT IT IS OF USA ORIGIN - AND SHIP THAT WEAPON TO US FOR TRACING - 90% of the time they are correct about that specific weapon. The actual US weapons percentage in Mexico is only 17% of the total.

This article is another example of stating erroneous "facts" about the gun situation in Mexico. Read this http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/04/02/myth-percent-guns-mexico-fraction-number-claimed/. It very clearly states that only 17% of the firearms in Mexico are of US origin. Most weapons taken are fully-automatic weapons, which ARE illegal and not manufactured for domestic sale in the United States - therefore smuggled in from another country. The 90% statistic comes from a different fact - That when Mexico SUSPECTS a particular weapon is from US origin - AND SHIPS SAID WEAPON TO US FOR TRACING - 90% of the time they are right!! The total percentage of US firearms in Mexico is only 17%.

What is with the bold faced lie that up to 90% of the guns confiscated come from the US. Even BATFE refuted those figures. Mexico confirmed that about 17% of the guns confiscated (not all guns used) originated in the US. Major media is, as usual, neglgent in reporting the facts. Would anyone believe for one minute that mexican criminals would bother with legal purchases in the US, which wouldn't include one automatic weapon, when they can buy them on the black market in Mexico, Central and South America without so much as proof of identity. Run these anti-american fools from office.

Why should law-abiding citizens be punished for what criminals do in Mexico? The effort should be concentrated on intercepting the flow of weapons across the border and implementing severe punishment on those who are violating the law. A life sentence would be appropriate.

Allan W.

As the article so correctly states, "during the 1990's, congressional Democratic leaders aggressively pushed gun-control legislation-and suffered crushing setbacks in the polls starting with the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress". "They've learned the lesson of what happened the last time," said LaPierre. Indeed. What the anti-gun crowd does not get, and proably never will is that people have the right to defend themselves from any kind of violent attack, be in their home, car, or upon their person. Law enforcement cannot protect you from these encounters because they are not oblilgated to do so. Their responsibility is to the community at large, not to you the individual. Yes,You can call, and yes they will respond. But in the three minutes it takes them to get to your residence, (the response time on a priority one call), you, or your loved ones can suffer terribly and the perpatrator will be five blocks away before the first unit arrives on scene. Then you become nothing more than a statistic, and a 911 footnote on the 10:00 evening news. Gun control never works. In point of fact, the only thing it has ever controled is the ability of law abiding citizens to protect themselves and their loved one's from harm.

Mexico wants the US to enact a ban HERE which did not work HERE to reduce crime when it was law, in hopes that what is enacted HERE and fails HERE will reduce crime THERE?
Well, Mexicans! Remember don't get carried away wuth our democrat party's hate for for gun owners HERE, and their nasty discrimination campaigns against them!
Not everything in our news media is true, and us Americans have to read between the lines! We understand why Newsweek-- for example-- lies about the 90% figure it repoeats!
Newsweek is and has bought into the discrimination campaign against gunowners here, years ago!
They are the kind of liars who WANT 90% of the guns in mexico to be from here as all 100% of them are used in a murder so theycan report that !
That is...you die as they lie! Such has become the sad state of American journalism! Viva the NRA!

the same mexico that demanded the prosecution of border agents who shot a drug smuggler from their country? You can't have it both way, exporting drugs to bring money into their economy, they have a border with us let them control it in both directions. The cartels are using AUTOMATIC weapons which have been banned in the U.S. since the 1930's. They will not turn weapons over for inspection and tracing so we are just suppost to take their word for it. Most of the weapons are from their own armorys brought to the gangs by defecting army members,and most of them were gifts from the U.S.. They have a problem with their border let them fix it, Maybe they will pay for half of the fence like your neighbor should do when you put up a fence between your properties.

I would like to know why they (the news media) keep posting the 90% number on assault weapons coming from the US to Mexico. The DEA, FBI and the BATF have already said that those numbers are WRONG. Also the Assault weapons they are finding are for the most part full auto. In the US there are very few full auto assault weapons up for sale, and the ones in public hands are regulated and monitored. Could the media look at possibly they are coming from somewhere else? The hand guns may be going across the border but I really get tired of hearing full auto weapons are coming from the US when they are really coming from a hand full of other 3rd world countries.

Figures the liberal rag Newsweek ssupports a ban on assalt rifles. I wouldn't read newsweek if they paid me to read it. I no longer read the local Atlanta liberal rag, the AJC. I say screw Mexico. Who cares about that 3rd world fleabag. They send all of their parasites slinking across our borders like insects to dilute our standard of living. Taking the jobs of our working class. It is not like they have something to offer America. We have penty of laborers. That BS about jobs Americans don't want. Well hell no, not for $5 an hour LOL. Their assalt weapons come from the black market. If it weren't some enterprising American, it would be an enterprising Chinese or Russian dude. I say if Mexico takes back the parasites they sent here, we will take back our assalt rifles. It would be a great trade.

the attornie generals job is to enforce the laws on the books not to determine what new laws go on the books. newsweek is trying to get anti gun llegislation in the news to promote newsweeks liberal anigun bias. that is the main reason i quit subscribing to the liberal rag years ago.

Why is Newsweek resurrecting this outdated (March) article? It seems like once everyone has moved on from this subject there are always a few discouraged editors who, frustrated at their inability to generate a nationwide demand for the banning and confiscation of guns, feel a need to try to reignite a burned-out issue. The statistics that were used are false anyway so it's not like there's anything new or overlooked here. Now that another 4 months have elapsed are there more "assault weapons" heading there or this just another periodic regurgitation of the same anti-gun drivel? Likely the latter since there's been nothing from any news source which indicates there is any new flood of weapons heading south.

there is hardly as many fully auto weapons as you people think.there were laws placed in the early and mid 1900's deforming fully automatic owner ship. i am sure we can rid ourselves of the gangs and drugs here. it is up to Mexico in reality, where these perpetrators are doing these things.i do not think the u.s. should lower its arms while the dealers and killers have all the guns...probably from Venezuela. if we disarm ourselves then peace here will be in jeopardy. a real red dawn would begin.

since when are Mexican drug lords buying weapons from gun shops in the US? I am pretty sure they, like all criminal enterprises, are buying their wepaons, which are the real deal, fully automatic military weapons (long since banned in the US from regular sale) through the BLACK MARKET. The bigger issue is, why is it that guns are being blamed for this violence? It's over drugs, which Mexico's cartels seem to be dutifuly supplying to thousands of useless blood-sucking drug USERS in the United States, Maybe if the reality of the fact that getting stoned comes at the cost of Mexican police/military/civilian lives maybe these morons would get a clue and stop using their product...
I mean really, where is the logic in thinking that by outlawing guns in the US it's going to stop DRUG DEALERS in MEXICO from obtaining FULLY AUTOMATIC MILITARY WEAPONS?

since when are Mexican drug lords buying weapons from gun shops in the US? I am pretty sure they, like all criminal enterprises, are buying their wepaons, which are the real deal, fully automatic military weapons (long since banned in the US from regular sale) through the BLACK MARKET. The bigger issue is, why is it that guns are being blamed for this violence? It's over drugs, which Mexico's cartels seem to be dutifuly supplying to thousands of useless blood-sucking drug USERS in the United States, Maybe if the reality of the fact that getting stoned comes at the cost of Mexican police/military/civilian lives maybe these morons would get a clue and stop using their product... ornot

Mexico has lots of problems. Law abiding American citizens aren't going to be the scapegoats for it! The US government knows that a majority of the people of this country want nothing to do with having our rights chopped away simply because Mexico can't control it's own house. The drug cartels have enough money to buy WMD's if they wanted to, from any number of sources, so leave the American gun owners out of it. As in, they can buy WMD's, so they certainly can buy all the guns that they want. I hear North Korea runs a pretty good weapons sales operations. The US won't search their ships.

The drug lords of Mexico are ruthless killers. If you take away assault weapons, they'll just kill each other with non-assault weapons. Besides if we don't sell them these assault rifles, someone else like China will get that business.

Assault weapon is a legal term that refers to a broad category of firearms, including military-style semiautomatic rifles derived from assault rifles, and also including some pistols and shotguns Now i know some of you are to stupid to figure this out so lets take a stroll down your logic lane ok???
Assault weapons are made to kill people. but people kill people to so lets ban people to? thats what your saying i dont know if you have ever heard your self talk but i must say that people that belive that i have one word for you IDIOT. you can try to explain your point of views but that facts are facts. assault rifles kill people but they save lifes to so next time you open your mouth to talk think before you do.