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Caught between drug gangs, public corruption, and strict anti-gun laws, Mexico has seen dramatic increases in murder and violent crime. The murder rate in Mexico is now five times that in the U.S.
At one time, Mexico's Constitution gave its citizens a right to "keep and bear arms." That protection was neutered four decades ago. Today in Mexico, privately owned firearms are limited to small caliber weapons and private citizens are disarmed in public. Concealed and open carry are both outlawed. Law abiding Mexicans have suffered greatly. But now, this from AP:
Several hundred civilians have taken up arms in two towns in a southwestern Mexico state and are arresting people suspected of crimes and imposing a curfew, . . .
People wearing ski masks or bandanas and carrying small arms this week began manning checkpoints on roads into the municipalities of Ayutla de los Libres and Teconoapa in Guerrero state's Costa Chica area about 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of the Pacific resort of Acapulco. Leaders said they were acting against crime and insecurity. . . .
People in the area said about 800 residents were participating in the armed groups acting as unofficial police. The vigilantes ordered a 10 p.m. curfew for the two towns and are looking for suspected criminals. Schools have suspended classes.
In Ayutla, Romualdo Remigio Cantu, one of the coordinators for the civic group Union of Peoples and Social Organizations of Guerrero, said that more than 30 people had been arrested. The detainees are accused of drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping, he said.
A man in a ski mask at one roadblock told reporters that townspeople had to act against criminals."They kill, extort, rape. You do not know if they are drug dealers, thugs, who want to grab everything," he said. "We want to return peace and tranquility to the entire population. Only the people can restore order." {emphasis added]
Actually, "only the people" with arms "can restore order." This really is an object lesson in why access to guns is not an archaic nullity, but should be the most basic and universal human right. My hat is off to the people of these towns for their courage in standing up to criminals and their decision to act in defiance of the government who would have them disarmed.
Two final thoughts. One, somebody ought to suggest to Holder that if he is going to unilaterally arm subsets of the Mexican population, he ought to start with these civilians, not the Mexican drug gangs raping, pillaging and killing them. Two, as to access to guns for the law abiding, somehow that doesn't seem to be on the UN's agenda. Indeed, I invite you to read the UN Office For Disarmament Affairs page on the "scourge" of "small arms." One term you will not find - "self defense." And I bet that, in the future, you will you never find reference on that page to the Union of Peoples and Social Organizations of Guerrero.
Linked at Larwyn's Linx. Thanks.
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