# Can we shoot back?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [June 10, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596 "2010-06-10T00:31:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 12
### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/221 "2010-06-19T18:20:53Z")
I can totally understand the kid’s actions. After all, don’t we all want to throw rocks at BP?
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### Author:  [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/222 "2010-06-19T18:33:19Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#):
>
> I watched it again and you are correct. It says “They are throwing rocks” indicating a group and \*\*after \*\*the shot they say “they hit him” so I put the two together. “They” proabaly means to the border patrol rather than the individeal officer.
You apparently don’t understand Spanish. It does not say “they hit him”.
I know the boy lived nearby because I have seen the Mexican coverage of the event. This fact was probably omitted in the American news coverage. There were also reports in the American media that the Mexican Army chased off the Border Patrol. This is completely false. In the first place it is the Mexican Federal Police (PFP) that arrived on the scene not the Army. They also reported that they were chased off at gunpoint. The video clearly shows the Border Patrol had already left the scene before the PFP arrived.
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### Author:  [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/223 "2010-06-19T18:34:29Z")
> [@Ludovic](#):
>
> I can totally understand the kid’s actions. After all, don’t we all want to throw rocks at BP?
Why don’t you either offer proof the boy was throwing rocks or shut the fuck up?
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### Author:  [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/224 "2010-06-19T18:37:43Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#):
>
> I’ve already dealt with this in another response. Just showing up and scaring them back to Mexico seems like a pretty bad way to protect our borders.
They turn people back at the border inspection station all of the time. What really is the difference? People deemed undesirable by your government do not enter the country. Isn’t that what you want?
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### Author:  [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/225 "2010-06-19T18:56:30Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#):
>
> They turn people back at the border inspection station all of the time. What really is the difference? People deemed undesirable by your government do not enter the country. Isn’t that what you want?
You don’t think there’s a difference between someone being turned back who is trying to enter legally , and someone committing a crime by trying to enter illegally?
I do.
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### Author:  [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/226 "2010-06-19T19:03:51Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#):
>
> You apparently don’t understand Spanish. It does not say “they hit him”.
>
> I know the boy lived nearby because I have seen the Mexican coverage of the event. This fact was probably omitted in the American news coverage. There were also reports in the American media that the Mexican Army chased off the Border Patrol. This is completely false. In the first place it is the Mexican Federal Police (PFP) that arrived on the scene not the Army. They also reported that they were chased off at gunpoint. The video clearly shows the Border Patrol had already left the scene before the PFP arrived.
I don’t speak spanish. I’m going by the written article. What specifically does it say? What is “le dio el esstupido”
It does say they are throwing stones doesn’t it?
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/227 "2010-06-19T19:37:12Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#):
>
> Why don’t you either offer proof the boy was throwing rocks or shut the fuck up?
My post is my cite. I have 100% incontrovertable evidence that the boy was throwing rocks at British Petroleum.
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### Author:  [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/228 "2010-06-20T16:30:33Z")
> [@magellan01](#):
>
> Next time you get pulled over for speeding tell the cop, “Yeah, I was speeding, but I’m not speeding _now_. I’m not even moving. Why take the time to give me a ticket when you can be out pulling over other speeders?” and see how that works out for you.
“Besides, it’s over now. Stop living in the past.” 🙂
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### Author:  [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/229 "2010-06-20T17:06:57Z")
> [@jtgain](#):
>
> “Besides, it’s over now. Stop living in the past.” 🙂
THat’s funny. I’m sure the officer wouldn’t think so but it’s funny.
Yes officer I know I WAS speeding but as you can see I’m not now. Let’s not dwell on the past okay? That’s a riot.
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### Author:  [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/230 "2010-06-21T09:15:12Z")
**CBEscapee** : Are you planning on answering this query?
> [@Monty](#):
>
> You wouldn’t happen to have any evidence that I’m a racist, would you?
Or you could finally admit that you’re a liar.
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### Author:  [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/231 "2010-06-21T19:37:05Z")
> [@Monty](#):
>
> Over here in Korea, three strikes is still an out.
Hey **Monty** , can you give **CBE** an idea of what goes on to illegal border crossings in your corner of the world?
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### Author:  [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/232 "2010-06-21T20:04:13Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#):
>
> Hey **Monty** , can you give **CBE** an idea of what goes on to illegal border crossings in your corner of the world?
You mean between two belligerant countries with maybe the most heavily armed border in the world? I imagine if the illegal border crossing is from north to south then the crosser will be welcomed with open arms. In the other direction, they may be shot.
Hey, you’re right!! There are some similarities after all!
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### Author:  [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/233 "2010-06-21T21:05:44Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#):
>
> The video doesn’t show anyone throwing rocks so how you can say there was a “group”. And no I am not saying no one was throwing rocks.
>
> As far as the dead boy, he happened to live about a block from the scene so why is it so strange for him to be in the area?
Let me repeat what I said earlier…
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#):
>
> Q: If nothing good happens in the ditch, then WTF are you doing in the ditch?
> A: You endorse or contribute to the problem that makes nothing good happen in the ditch.
>
> You are who you roll with…aka the “Duck Test”.
Let me also add that it is irrelevant whether he lives next door to the ditch or a thousand miles from the ditch, the ditch is still not a place where good things happen…and he would have known this by living so close to it.
> [@CBEscapee](#):
>
> If you watch the video, and as I have already posted, you will see that the ones trying to enter the US were all trying to return to México, they were no longer attempting to enter the USA. The BP could easily have let the one he subdued continue on into México. Isn’t it his job to prohibit people from crossing the border illegally? If they were all returning to our side of the border what exactly was the point in apprehending the guy in the first place? He will have to processed etc and that takes resources away from the BP to watch the border.
So, you want unlawful activity to just become a game of “Tag”? 😕
> [@](#):
>
> The BP agent could have simply retreated up the side of the American side out of range of any rock thrower and made sure no one was going to cross through that hole in the fence. But that would take intelligence and the BP in this case appears to have little.
Wow…you think there should be no consequences for those who assault BP agents and/or try to cross illegally, as long as they’ve changed their minds and “just feel like” heading back into Mexico. That type of “critical thinking” like that would probably embolden such behavior, not deter it…but then you wouldn’t care about that now, would you? Not your problem, right?
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### Author:  [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/234 "2010-06-21T21:26:18Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#):
>
> You mean between two belligerant countries with maybe the most heavily armed border in the world? I imagine if the illegal border crossing is from north to south then the crosser will be welcomed with open arms. In the other direction, they may be shot.
>
> Hey, you’re right!! There are some similarities after all!
Not two, one. One offensive, one defensive.
There are no similarities. NK would shoot their own unarmed citizens without question for trying to escape…not similar at all. There wouldn’t be a chance to pick up a rock let alone throw one. The situation with the US and Mexico is pretty much the opposite.
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### Author:  [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/235 "2010-06-21T22:08:47Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#):
>
> I imagine if the illegal border crossing is from north to south then the crosser will be welcomed with open arms. In the other direction, they may be shot.
>
> Hey, you’re right!! There are some similarities after all!
That’s a far better description of Mexico’s southern border than anything else.
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### Author:  [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/236 "2010-06-21T22:18:47Z")
> [@Zeriel](#):
>
> That’s a far better description of Mexico’s southern border than anything else.
Besides which, one more reason the comparison doesn’t work is: how many U.S. citizens are trying to illegally cross the border into Mexico? Besides criminals on the run, I mean.
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### Author:  [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/237 "2010-06-21T22:39:05Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#):
>
> Let me also add that it is irrelevant whether he lives next door to the ditch or a thousand miles from the ditch, the ditch is still not a place where good things happen…and he would have known this by living so close to it.
So the same goes for inner city kids that live in bad areas. It is their fault if they get shot for being there. You are truly stupid. Too bad you don’t know it.
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### Author:  [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/238 "2010-06-21T22:42:55Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#):
>
> Wow…you think there should be no consequences for those who assault BP agents and/or try to cross illegally, as long as they’ve changed their minds and “just feel like” heading back into Mexico. That type of “critical thinking” like that would probably embolden such behavior, not deter it…but then you wouldn’t care about that now, would you? Not your problem, right?
From the attitude of so many on this board I am quickly losing any sympathy for any bad things that happen to Americans. You are exactly right, your problems are not my problems. Just because your compatriots want to abuse illegal drugs why should we give a shit. Right? We ought to just let the shit flow north.
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### Author:  [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/239 "2010-06-21T22:57:38Z")
> [@Monty](#):
>
> Or you could finally admit that you’re a liar.
Eh… he’s a racist, a liar and in possession of a fourth rate mind.
Hopefully he’ll just go away at some point when baiting the anglos loses its charm for the creature.
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### Author:  [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-shoot-back/542596/240 "2010-06-21T23:05:47Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#):
>
> From the attitude of so many on this board I am quickly losing any sympathy for any bad things that happen to Americans. You are exactly right, your problems are not my problems. Just because your compatriots want to abuse illegal drugs why should we give a shit. Right? We ought to just let the shit flow north.
The U.S. is far from being the [only](http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/07/28/20080728mex-addicts0725.html) market for the drug cartels. If all drugs were legalized or de-criminalized in Mexico no matter the quantity, a not insignificant amount would never make it to the US.
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