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Sen. Kerry pushes for tighter gun control

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  • ml1209

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    If Kerry had his way, no more importation of "assault" weapons into the U.S.


    Senators hear how AK-47s make it to Mexico drug gangs | Front page | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle


    Sen. Kerry makes push for tighter gun control

    EL PASO — The United States does not need to send troops to the border in response to Mexico's drug war, nor is Mexico in danger of becoming a failed state, law enforcement officials told a congressional panel.

    Witnesses testifying before members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in El Paso on Monday urged the lawmakers to bolster law enforcement in the region, increase aid to Mexico and push it to reform institutions whose weaknesses have been exposed by their struggle with drug-trafficking gangs.

    Experts and members of Congress likewise said Mexico had not become a "failed state" despite corruption and intimidation that have weakened local control in some areas.

    "Cartels are primarily interested in fighting each other," not in challenging for political control, Howard Campbell, an anthropologist at the University of Texas, El Paso, where the hearing was held, told the senators.

    Monday's hearings, the committee's first along the border, came amid a flurry of activity in Washington focusing on Mexico's struggle with drug cartels. The Obama administration last week announced it would send more money and agents to the border, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Mexico. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. will visit soon. President Barack Obama will visit Mexico on April 16.

    At Monday's hearing, committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said he had been shocked to see killings and beheadings "just a stone's throw across the Rio Grande from where we're sitting this morning."

    Across the border, thousands of Mexican soldiers patrol Ciudad Juarez, which saw about 2,000 murders in 14 months.

    Kerry called for a ban on the imports of assault rifles, such as the AK-47, into the United States. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., opposed the idea.

    Assault rifles bought in the United States are favorites among cartel gunmen, who find them effective for the urban warfare, William McMahon, deputy assistant director of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told the committee. ATF agents have traced many guns confiscated in Mexico to purchases in the United States, McMahon said.

    For example, more than 60 guns seized following a shootout among factions of the Tijuana cartel in April 2008 were traced to purchases in Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia and Denver, McMahon said.

    The visiting senators were particularly interested in how much violence was spilling into the United States. Cartel-related killings have occurred in Texas, and cities such as Phoenix are experiencing a rise in kidnappings for ransom, which authorities say are related to debt collection among drug dealers. Mexican cartels have extended their networks into as many as 230 U.S. cities, according to federal law enforcement agencies.

    El Paso District Attorney Jaime Esparza said trafficking rivalries and infighting had little effect on crime in U.S. border towns. During those bloody 14 months in Juarez, El Paso had 20 homicides, Esparza said.

    "Austin, Houston, Dallas -- they are not seeing their numbers up" either, said Esparza, who is a past president of an association of Texas prosecutors. "The rhetoric has been escalated and exaggerated."

    Texas Gov. Rick Perry recently asked for 1,000 National Guard troops to be stationed at the border. But Esparza said he didn't think militarizing the border was needed.

    "We are safe here in El Paso," Esparza said. "If we see a radical change, I would tell you differently."
     

    cuate

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    Oh My !!! Sen. Kerry, the self styled war hero jabbering more anti gun propaganda. I simply cannot understand a voting people that will elect and keep electing the Kerry types. Has the American gene pool dried up in some areas?
     

    M. Sage

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    There's already a ban on the importation of AKs. Ever notice that the only ones on the new market are US-made or Saigas?

    What a tool.
     

    DCortez

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    If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. Michael Savage had it right, liberalism is a mental disorder.

    We need to get back to the America of 1776. Where life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were the words of the day.
     

    deadeye1964

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    GRAPEVINE
    Oh My !!! Sen. Kerry, the self styled war hero jabbering more anti gun propaganda. I simply cannot understand a voting people that will elect and keep electing the Kerry types. Has the American gene pool dried up in some areas?


    Don't take this wrong but the next time you go outside, look around, I am amazed that some of these idiots can even find the polls. A lot of the American people have become so influenced by media and slick politician's, they cannot think for themselves. I know we are all gun people here so the notion of banning guns and believing the criminals would obey a gun ban law when they just killed a family of 5 is nuts.

    The gun laws are the least of our worries, we are very close to living in a socialist nation. You have an administration that is going to undo our countries security in one year what took years to build. If the census bureau duties are moved to the White House, the redistricting will eliminate democracy. Sorry to get all worked up but it all goes back to your point about elected officials, if you liberal whack jobs out there vote for these people, DO NOT WHINE WHEN THEY TAKE YOUR FREEDOM AWAY.
     

    Texas42

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    Technoronin, I don't think every politician is entirely bad. He went to a funeral. I don't doubt the idea was politically motivated. This is the same man who trashed his uniform because he wanted the Anti military people to vote for him.

    The facts are that NOW he is trying to take away our rights. The facts are NOW that he is supporting an administration that is trying to shove a social agenda down out throats that will bankrupt this country by lying and deception. They will take the last, free and great nation on Earth and make into into another, almost made it socialist country full of class and race warefare.

    If it sounds like I'm mad. I am. I have good reason to be. I'm just calling it as I see it.
     

    oldguy

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    Sometimes the ad hominem attacks on politicians really get irritating.

    What really is irritating is politicians attacks on our rights daily I believe if
    they treated us with respect it would be returned.
     

    technoronin

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    These sorts of attacks also tend to be counterproductive. Many folks who are undecided will recognize an ad hominem attack and decide against the attacker. This is the sort of thing that get folks branded as "wackos". Really, it's a bad idea that plays into the hands of the liberal media.

    Gun owners already have problems with our image, we need to avoid making it worse.

    At the very least, I would like to recommend "The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" as a way to figure out soe of the things we are doing to be our own worst enemies.

    Yeah, there are a bunch of gun grabbers in office, we need to work to maximize our effectiveness in opposing them.
     

    Kowalski

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    Legislation now is NOT what it was designed to be in the beginning. If we still have the pipe dream that states... "That couldn't possible happen here!!" then we are sadly mistaken.

    In less than 100 days more legislation has been changed with executive orders and a SINGLE stroke of a pen than years of congress at work.

    For example. When did the government have the authority to fire the CEO of a private company? (IE GM's Chief.) If he can fire their CEO he can fire ANY CEO or other company officials without the boards, shareholders or public's approval. While I'm not approving of the way the company squandered the funds, they shouldn’t have been allowed government handouts and still have bankruptcy as an option. Capitalism is on its way out and Socialism is right there to push her out the door and take over. (Thanks to Kerry, Hillary, Pelo, and the rest of the village people!!)

    Let's face it. Things aren't what they used to be and it'll be hard pressed to recover from this type of political action.

    Rico
     
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