Voice of America Over Simplifies Mexican Cartel Problems

There is no doubt that the violence south of the border, which is now sadly straying across the border into the United States from Mexico, is a problem for both nations. However, the problem is oversimplified in the mainstream media, and too often much of blame falls on Americans, and more importantly on American guns. Interestingly, one aspect that isn’t mentioned so much is the real problem: the American drug user.

Voice of America offered a choice quote from Matt Bennett, vice president of Third Way, a self-described moderate think tank:

“It is not just a Mexican problem. Guns and money are flowing from the United States south and fueling this problem and drugs are traveling north.”

Actually we see that the problem is that drugs are flowing north, and whether it is hardcore addicts or just the occasional recreational user, they’re the criminals who are in turn sending the cash back to Mexico. There remains little evidence that the United States is supplying massive amounts of firearms to the cartels. This week’s news about a 19-year-old who was caught with half a dozen weapons should be proof of that fact. The media notes this incident as proof that American guns are heading to the near war zone, but the truth isn’t so obvious.

First, you don’t supply guns in great numbers by having a few individuals drive across with half a dozen guns. For this type of conflict you need dozens, or hundreds of guns. Second, it isn’t clear where those illegal guns had come from, notably as they were described as “machine guns,” which aren’t exactly the sort of item you pick up at the average gun shop.

But back to our original point, this is an issue of criminals. Criminals selling drugs, criminals using drugs, and criminals shooting each other to control the drug trade. Unfortunately the word “guns” gets involved and that is something that can affect the law-abiding gun owners. Ironic isn’t it?