# NRA Enables Mexican Cartels' in their Drug Wars **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 19, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028 "2010-05-19T17:58:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/21 "2010-05-19T20:28:15Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Because roughly 22,000 people have died in Mexican drug wars since the Mexican President Calderon took office. Ahem. I believe you mean Mexican President Flavian Amphitheatre. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/22 "2010-05-19T20:33:24Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Blame the gangsters. Blame their own government. Blame simple greed. It seems only fair, as Americans’ insatiable drug consumption is blamed for the existence of the cartels. But wait… if not for that, there wouldn’t \*be \*any cartels demanding our weapons… so dammit, it’s \*still \*our fault! ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/23 "2010-05-19T20:41:42Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > It seems only fair, as Americans’ insatiable drug consumption is blamed for the existence of the cartels. > > But wait… if not for that, there wouldn’t \*be \*any cartels demanding our weapons… so dammit, it’s \*still \*our fault! But they are growing the shit, so it’s their fault! They made us smoke it all up! Or something. I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/24 "2010-05-19T20:57:20Z")
[QUOTE=SteveG1] But they are growing the shit, so it’s their fault! They made us smoke it all up! [/QUOTE] _puff puff_ What I think about this is…_puff puff_…um, anyone else hungry? I could seriously go for a pizza or some tacos or something. _puff puff__puff puff_ Yeah! What SteveG1 said! What were we talking about again? … Anyway, as to the OP, I think that Airman Doors put it best when he eloquently said ‘_yawn_’. I especially like his use of the ‘\*’ emotes, indicating actually yawn-age, which I think was entirely appropriate to this particular OP. Let me just second his brilliant and insightful assertions by saying _yawn_ as well. Oh, and let me just add ‘when come back, bring something more interesting to discuss’ to our much respected OP! _golf clap_ -XT ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/25 "2010-05-19T21:04:28Z")
Maybe our advertisers are trying to tell us something. A few minutes ago there was a blurb about buying Dragon Skin armor on Ebay, and now it’s something about a “9mm won’t protect you…” Hmmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/26 "2010-05-19T22:04:10Z")
[Mexico data overstate weapons traced to U.S.](http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_12366467?source=pkg) > [@](#): > > More than 90 percent of about 11,000 guns tied to violence in Mexico’s drug wars came from the United States, but those weapons were **handpicked for tracing by Mexican authorities**. > > The Mexican federal attorney general’s staff recently acknowledged that Mexican authorities had seized 35,943 arms, **including 2,800 grenades** , since the crackdown against the drug cartels began in December 2006. > > That means Mexico provided the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with serial numbers for less than a third of the weapons that were seized. Bolding mine. Like 87% of all statistics, the numbers are cherry picked or just manufactured from whole cloth. 2800 grenades? Sounds more like the US military is supporting the cartels. I was at Gander Mountain earlier this week and there was no display cabinet for grenades or similar ordinance. But if you know where I can buy some, please enlighten me. Or as **Airman Doors** so eloquently put it. _yawn_ ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/27 "2010-05-19T22:39:39Z")
First, **Evil Captor** , glad to see you back. Second, the NRA also supports much tighter border security, which would make it much more difficult for American nationals to legally purchase firearms, and then illegally smuggle them into Mexico and sell them to cartels. That being said, If every gun in the US turned into Twinkies tomorrow morning, the cartels would be out of guns for about a day, while they lined up new sources. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/28 "2010-05-19T23:56:28Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > [Mexico data overstate weapons traced to U.S.](http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_12366467?source=pkg)Bolding mine. > > Like 87% of all statistics, the numbers are cherry picked or just manufactured from whole cloth. > > 2800 grenades? Sounds more like the US military is supporting the cartels. I was at Gander Mountain earlier this week and there was no display cabinet for grenades or similar ordinance. But if you know where I can buy some, please enlighten me. > > Or as **Airman Doors** so eloquently put it. > > _yawn_ Well gee, doesn’t EVERYONE go to Target or Big Five for their hand grenades? I know I do (just not enough rolleyes to cover it). ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/29 "2010-05-20T00:00:40Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Long live the NRA. I think I’ll go buy another semi-automatic weapon today, just because I can. And I hope it pisses you off. Yeah, that seems to be the basic level of thoughtfulness the NRA typically displays. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/30 "2010-05-20T00:09:25Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Well gee, doesn’t EVERYONE go to Target or Big Five for their hand grenades? I know I do (just not enough rolleyes to cover it). Wal Mart has better prices, but there is more variance in fuse timing. Throw them FAST once you pull the pin. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/31 "2010-05-20T00:15:25Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Yeah, that seems to be the basic level of thoughtfulness the NRA typically displays. Except for the part where they say that the laws that are currently on the books should be enforced vigorously. And the part where they supported the creation of the National Instant Check System. And the part where they support firearms education through the Eddie Eagle program. This is to be distinguished from the Brady Campaign and the VPC, who know nothing but “Guns are bad, let’s lobby for new crime prevention laws that have no hope of preventing crime”. Who’s being thoughtful again? Damn you, you made me make an argument. I should have stuck with the yawn. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/32 "2010-05-20T00:18:59Z")
You’re right. I should have said “the level of thoughtfulness the typical _NRA member_ displays”. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/33 "2010-05-20T01:19:34Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > You’re right. I should have said “the level of thoughtfulness the typical _NRA member_ displays”. Where can I find this survey describing “typical NRA members”? I’m sure you must have some peer-reviewed research readily at hand that describes the average age/income/educational level of NRA members? Surely you wouldn’t just be taking an unsubstantiated cheapshot at people that disagree with you. You’re better than that, right? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/34 "2010-05-20T01:25:51Z")
BTW, the NRA isn’t what enables the Mexican Cartel drug wars…Americans are who enables it, and our stupid prohibition type laws while a relatively large percentage of us partake of all those illicit drugs. THAT’S what enables the Drug Wars. Get rid of the silly laws and it will take a large bite out of the profitability and funding for all those Cartel’s to fund their stupid, destructive wars, just like it took the wind out of the sails of the booze runners and mobsters after they allowed American’s to legally do what they were ALREADY doing anyway. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/35 "2010-05-20T01:56:08Z")
So the Mexican authorities raided a drug cartel’s training camp and supply depot and came up with… 140 semi-automatic rifles? Oh wait, it said 140 semi-automatic **assault** rifles! That changes everything! And 10,000 rounds of ammunition! Why, that would be 200 boxes of 50 rounds each! What an arsenal! They were almost as heavily supplied with ammo as my local Walmart. And where would the drug cartels be without the high-powered handguns they buy in the US? Why without straw buyers supplying them with 9mm Glocks, the cartels would be reduced to rigging up .22 caliber zip guns! Seriously, if this is the best a well-funded drug cartel can do, then they’re amateurs. At most, the US is the source of their mundane, everyday basic street-gang level firearms, which are only significant because it’s nearly impossible for civilians to legally obtain guns in Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/36 "2010-05-20T02:38:20Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > I’m not interested in the NRA, and I don’t have a closet full of automatic weapons. > > Still and all, I don’t see any reason for me, a US citizen with a clean record, to have my ability to buy a rifle, or shotgun, or any other sporting arms, curtailed because of Mexican gangsters. Ban every weapon here in the US - all of them - semiauto, double action, single action, pump, all of it - and these gangsters will still have their hardware, and yes, they will still have full auto weapons if they want them too. Want to blame someone? Blame the gangsters. Blame their own government. Blame simple greed. Amen. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/37 "2010-05-20T02:42:11Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > Wal Mart has better prices, but there is more variance in fuse timing. Throw them FAST once you pull the pin. O Lord, bless this Thy hand grenade that, with it, Thou mayest blow Thine enemies to tiny bits in Thy mercy. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/38 "2010-05-20T02:43:05Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > You’re right. I should have said “the level of thoughtfulness the typical _NRA member_ displays”. What a bunch of hooey. You are equating NRA members with Tea Baggers, and it doesn’t work. Plenty of liberal-minded people reserve the right to bear arms too. And I ain’t one of them. But they surely exist. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/39 "2010-05-20T02:44:11Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > What a bunch of hooey. You are equating NRA members with Tea Baggers, and it doesn’t work. Plenty of liberal-minded people reserve the right to bear arms too. > > And I ain’t one of them. But they surely exist. I think I qualify as one of them. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028/40 "2010-05-20T02:44:34Z")
Are some folks completely ignorant of the actual types of arms that are legally available for US citizens to buy? 'Cuz it ain’t rockets, tanks, mortars and shit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-enables-mexican-cartels-in-their-drug-wars/540028.md?page=3)