Christian Science Monitor Continues to Cite 90 Percent Number
Is it possible that some in the media just like a fact so much that they’ll continue to report on it, despite the “fact” that it isn’t even true? The latest example comes from The Christian Science Monitor, which notes the number of gun shops along “the border” with Mexico, but worse the outlet continues to spew that notorious 90 percent number, long after it has been disproved.
“The cartels hire people without criminal records to buy a handful of weapons at a time, from licensed dealers – there are 6,600 along the border alone – or private individuals at gun shows, and then drive them across the border. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and Explosives estimates that 90 percent of the traced firearmss [sic] recovered in Mexico originated in the US.”
First, what exactly is meant by along the border? It isn’t as if there are gun shops with signs that say, “last gun shop before you leave the U.S.A.” No, these just happen to be privately owned shops located in towns 100 or so miles within the border. When you factor in that there many reasonably sized cities near the border with Mexico, it is easy to understand that there are going to be gun shops. Should these businesses close because they happen to be too close to Mexico?
But worse, how can the CSM cite a number that even BATFE doesn’t support anymore. There has never been proof of this number, and on the contrary it has been essentially disproved, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping the mainstream media from quoting this figure.
Kansas City Star Editorial Says U.S. Shares Blame for Mexico’s Woes
In an editorial for The Kansas City Star, Mary Sanchez notes “Mexico’s drug problems are ours, and vice versa.” That is debatable. She tries to offer a misguided history lesson, which is fine. But then she attempts to point the blame at American firearms, and that’s where her editorial needs to be called out. Read more
Who Guards the Guards: Ex-FBI Agent Sent to Jail For Selling Guns
The Associated Press, via The Houston Chronicle noted this week that former FBI agent John Thomas Shipley has been convicted of violating federal firearms laws after he acted as a gun dealer, and illegally sold 51 weapons from 2005 to 2008.
The news story noted that at least one of these guns was later traced by Mexican authorities following a shootout south of the border.
Associated Press Doesn’t Call Out Calderon Lies
If an American politician suggested something that wasn’t true we’d expect the American mainstream media to call them out on it. Even when a foreign leader says something that is patently wrong, the MSM usually steps up. The exception is when it involves guns, and then the MSM just gives politicians a pass, as the Associated Press has once again done with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. Read more
BBC News Quotes Mexican President: “US Irresponsible on Gun Trade”
In a news story from the BBC, Mexican President Felipe Calderon offers a few bold statements. First, he is quoted as saying, “I don’t honestly think the United States has many any significant efforts to deal with drug addiction,” but he then makes the even bolder statement of saying, “the American weapons industry is a veracious and ambitious industry. It’s clear to me that they’ve created conflict in poor country in Africa just to sell weapons, and in the same way they’re making money in this situation here in Mexico.” Read more
Golden Guns From Mexican Cartels
The American mainstream media has remained somewhat fixated on American guns that head south of the border, but the British press has picked up on the so-called “narco bling weaponry” that has been confiscated from Mexican drug lords. The Daily Mail noted several actual “golden guns.” Read more
WaPo Still Claims 80 Percent of Mexican Guns Come From the United States
Do the editors at The Washington Post think that if they say something enough times that it will make it true? While much of the mainstream media has finally accepted the fact that it is a bold face lie that “80 percent of guns used by Mexican cartels come from the United States,” as recently as last weekend WaPo again cited those numbers in an editorial.
In a piece titled “The U.S. is turning away from Mexico’s failing drug war,” dated Saturday, August 14, the editors offer this take:
“Mexican authorities have seized more than 84,000 weapons, including thousands of high-powered assault rifles, grenades and other military-caliber equipment. More than 80 percent of the guns whose provenance could be traced came from the United States.” Read more
The Other 80 Percent – the Number the Media Isn’t Reporting
For the past year we’ve heard time and time again about the “80 percent of guns from Mexico that can be traced back to the United States.” Sometimes the number is even higher, at least according to the mainstream media. While The Washington Post and even CBSNews.com continue to emphasis that number, it has been largely debunked. But there is another 80 percent figure, and one that has yet to be disputed, yet it has nothing to do with guns – and it is a greater threat to America, then guns are to Mexico. Read more
Who Guards the Guards: Ex-Oklahoma Narcotics Agent Accused of Gun Trafficking
While we continue to dispute that the vast majority of guns used by Mexican cartels actually originate in the United States, we do agree that there is some trafficking across the border. One key fact that is often overlooked by the mainstream media and even politicians both in Mexico and the United States is who is doing the trafficking. This week NewsOK is reporting that in a recent case it was someone in local law enforcement who was involved. Read more
Brady Center Takes Aim at Obama
The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence issued a press release this week criticizing President Obama for failing to name a director to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The full press release was posted at the progressive news site CommonDreams.org, and it suggests that contrary to its usual rhetoric about “reasonable gun laws,” the Brady Bunch indeed would like to see an outright ban on firearms. Read more
