Last week, a federal judge in Arizona ruled that the Mexican government can move forward in its potentially history-making lawsuit against five Arizona gun dealers, four of which are located in the borderlands. It’s the second lawsuit filed by the Mexican government to curb the illegal trafficking of U.S. weapons, which contribute to tens of thousands of deaths every year as organized crime claims more territory in Mexico. The first lawsuit, against gun manufacturers, was
Excellent reporting on one of the most under reported issues. I had no idea about these lawsuits. I work with asylum seekers everyday and almost all have been victims of some sort of violence in Mexico on their way to the border. I can only hope Jonathan Lowy is successful as he has given his life to this urgent work.
Good onya. This is exactly what we need. I'm tired of hearing the reports of road rage shootings here in Houston. And thieves... whether gang related or opportunistic or professional, they simply pull a gun and shoot, no in between time at all. No negotiation or response happens.
If we use very round numbers, roughly 200,000 people or more, in the US and Mexico die from crimes committed with guns (including suicide), and infliction through drug use. The number of deceased and living victims may be pushed to 250,000 if we include tortured souls of human trafficking who are enslaved by the same profiteers on the border. In light of recent headlines where US authorities lost track of 85,000 children in the federal databases, I suspect the numbers are even further skewed. Searches for statistical data are not rewarding, as many reporting sites have incomplete data and gaps.
The idea that a quarter million human beings are caused/forced to endure great suffering is an indictment on all of our society.
The man who fears home invasion and holds close a weapon to protect his family is no more or less fearful than his fellow human beings across the border who are mostly disarmed, and who may commonly see or know of instances of armed persons controlling neighborhoods, checkpoints, and whole communities. These everyday men and women are also no more or less courageous.
We should ask if Sao Paulo Mystery and the and the solutions discussed by Justus should be applied here? ref: Justus, M., et al., The “São Paulo Mystery”: The role of the criminal organization PCC in reducing the homicide in 2000s. EconomiA (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econ.2018.02.003
In his discussion of events from 2000 to 2015, Justus mentions disarmament in the conclusion as only one of 7 variables. If we presume that Mexico is mostly disarmed, then greater effort must be placed upon total disarmament of organized criminal organizations. It should be noted those organizations also use Class III weapons which are not commonly available to the general public in the US, and are highly controlled. A list would include 50 cal. truck mounted machine guns, and shoulder fired rocket propelled grenades and anti armor rocket systems which are primarily stolen from military arsenals.
So where are we going? Our peoples have real and perceived fears and they deal with them with greatly varying methods that conform to the laws of each country. There is no high ground or immorality in either perspective. Protecting family and children by any means possible is the greatest responsibility and sometimes sacrifice made by any parent(s). When people have less to fear the reliance and perception to need a firearm also goes down. I suspect that is a natural cause and effect. Instead of a singular attempt to point fingers at the gun industry and make a money grab. Our governments would (?) could (?) achieve greater success by removing the profit motive of the organized crime elements and enforce justice for the quarter million human beings who are victimized each year.
Imagine please-- that one million human beings have been victims in the last four years. The report by Justus may be out of date since its publication in 2018. But it could be a foundational stone for the peoples of our society to demand that all seven variables in his conclusion are addressed and tested in this very real world. One million people...
Cars aren’t safely regulated either, way more period killed worldwide in civil society, if someone is killed, the driver invariably gets away with a slap on the wrist or no penalty at all. Both are major issues in domestic violence.
I am mostly a second amendment advocate, but I am also curious about what a gun free civilization would look like. We are a species that is shaped by story telling and one cannot go for 24 hours without seeing or hearing a story about gunplay. A character points a gun at another's head and suddenly they bend to his/her will. It would be a good compromise if guns were only used by peaceful folks when set upon by bullies, but everything gets corrupted.
I look forward to reading about the progress of this law suit as I retain ownership of my household weapons. With The USAs strange shift toward fascism I will admit to holding a little tighter to my weapons. In the deep recesses of my psyche I still envision a scenario where I may have to "go out shooting". If someone could allay my fears I would be much more incline to agree to a mutual disarmament.
Excellent reporting on one of the most under reported issues. I had no idea about these lawsuits. I work with asylum seekers everyday and almost all have been victims of some sort of violence in Mexico on their way to the border. I can only hope Jonathan Lowy is successful as he has given his life to this urgent work.
Great write up! Sharing.
Good onya. This is exactly what we need. I'm tired of hearing the reports of road rage shootings here in Houston. And thieves... whether gang related or opportunistic or professional, they simply pull a gun and shoot, no in between time at all. No negotiation or response happens.
This is a good touch point on social culpability and I have great concern for public safety on both sides of the border. I found this article from 2018 to be a thoughtful examination of many problems in Latin America: https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/why-latin-america-dominates-global-homicide-rankings/
If we use very round numbers, roughly 200,000 people or more, in the US and Mexico die from crimes committed with guns (including suicide), and infliction through drug use. The number of deceased and living victims may be pushed to 250,000 if we include tortured souls of human trafficking who are enslaved by the same profiteers on the border. In light of recent headlines where US authorities lost track of 85,000 children in the federal databases, I suspect the numbers are even further skewed. Searches for statistical data are not rewarding, as many reporting sites have incomplete data and gaps.
The idea that a quarter million human beings are caused/forced to endure great suffering is an indictment on all of our society.
The man who fears home invasion and holds close a weapon to protect his family is no more or less fearful than his fellow human beings across the border who are mostly disarmed, and who may commonly see or know of instances of armed persons controlling neighborhoods, checkpoints, and whole communities. These everyday men and women are also no more or less courageous.
We should ask if Sao Paulo Mystery and the and the solutions discussed by Justus should be applied here? ref: Justus, M., et al., The “São Paulo Mystery”: The role of the criminal organization PCC in reducing the homicide in 2000s. EconomiA (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econ.2018.02.003
In his discussion of events from 2000 to 2015, Justus mentions disarmament in the conclusion as only one of 7 variables. If we presume that Mexico is mostly disarmed, then greater effort must be placed upon total disarmament of organized criminal organizations. It should be noted those organizations also use Class III weapons which are not commonly available to the general public in the US, and are highly controlled. A list would include 50 cal. truck mounted machine guns, and shoulder fired rocket propelled grenades and anti armor rocket systems which are primarily stolen from military arsenals.
So where are we going? Our peoples have real and perceived fears and they deal with them with greatly varying methods that conform to the laws of each country. There is no high ground or immorality in either perspective. Protecting family and children by any means possible is the greatest responsibility and sometimes sacrifice made by any parent(s). When people have less to fear the reliance and perception to need a firearm also goes down. I suspect that is a natural cause and effect. Instead of a singular attempt to point fingers at the gun industry and make a money grab. Our governments would (?) could (?) achieve greater success by removing the profit motive of the organized crime elements and enforce justice for the quarter million human beings who are victimized each year.
Imagine please-- that one million human beings have been victims in the last four years. The report by Justus may be out of date since its publication in 2018. But it could be a foundational stone for the peoples of our society to demand that all seven variables in his conclusion are addressed and tested in this very real world. One million people...
Cars aren’t safely regulated either, way more period killed worldwide in civil society, if someone is killed, the driver invariably gets away with a slap on the wrist or no penalty at all. Both are major issues in domestic violence.
I am mostly a second amendment advocate, but I am also curious about what a gun free civilization would look like. We are a species that is shaped by story telling and one cannot go for 24 hours without seeing or hearing a story about gunplay. A character points a gun at another's head and suddenly they bend to his/her will. It would be a good compromise if guns were only used by peaceful folks when set upon by bullies, but everything gets corrupted.
I look forward to reading about the progress of this law suit as I retain ownership of my household weapons. With The USAs strange shift toward fascism I will admit to holding a little tighter to my weapons. In the deep recesses of my psyche I still envision a scenario where I may have to "go out shooting". If someone could allay my fears I would be much more incline to agree to a mutual disarmament.