Mexico drug violence not an 'emergency,' White House says

"While drug violence continues to spread in Mexico, White House officials have decided the situation doesn’t rank as an “emergency” under federal rules, officials tell NBC News. The decision scuttles — at least for now — a controversial proposal requiring gun stores in four Southwest border states to report multiple sales of semiautomatic assault rifles and other long guns to authorities."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41495274/ns/us_news-security/

Figures

Not really surprising. It will only be seen as a problem when it starts spilling over into the US on a regular basis.

according to Babeu(sp?) we're about 30-60 days away from an all-out gunfight with the cartels.

Lime Flavoured wrote:Not really surprising. It will only be seen as a problem when it starts spilling over into the US on a regular basis.

Violence among Mexican nationals and first and second generation Mexican-Americans who self-identify as Mexicans rather than Americans is already a huge and burgeoning problem in the border states and in states with a significant non-assimilated ethnic Mexican population.

Most of the press downplays this ongoing violence.

Extortion perpetrated by gangs upon Hispanic-owned businesses is one aspect of the problem that gets almost no publicity, but is endemic in the Spanish-speaking communities acros the US.

Almost every square foot of the southern states, and of many northern areas in the US, is "owned" of claimed by one gang or another.

Currently, most 'white' people are unaware of this, as we pass through one part of a town or city to another unmolested -- whereas if we were of Hispanic heritage we would be expected to participate by siding with one gang or another, either actively or passively.

Most of the violence is "low key" (as compared to massive gunbattles in the streets), and perpetrated by Hispanics upon Hispanics -- home invasions, one-on-one shootings, stabbings, and is often alcohol- or meth-fueled.

Because the majority culture is largely unaffected, people tend to say "as long as they just do it to each other" and turn a blind eye. But the cost is staggering for law enforcement, incarceration, and impaired business climate.

If the current administration were to admit anything near the quality-of-life and economic impact of violence committed by illegal immigrants, and the influence of the cartel gangs upon all citizens of cities and towns in the US, it would have to face up to the real problem: No coherent policy on enforcing immigration laws.

As it is, many if not most of the cartel-connected criminals in the US exist in an undocumented legal twilight zone, and travel freely back and forth between countries.

goodmockingbird wrote:

Lime Flavoured wrote:Not really surprising. It will only be seen as a problem when it starts spilling over into the US on a regular basis.

Violence among Mexican nationals and first and second generation Mexican-Americans who self-identify as Mexicans rather than Americans is already a huge and burgeoning problem in the border states and in states with a significant non-assimilated ethnic Mexican population.

Most of the press downplays this ongoing violence.

Extortion perpetrated by gangs upon Hispanic-owned businesses is one aspect of the problem that gets almost no publicity, but is endemic in the Spanish-speaking communities acros the US.

Almost every square foot of the southern states, and of many northern areas in the US, is "owned" of claimed by one gang or another.

Currently, most 'white' people are unaware of this, as we pass through one part of a town or city to another unmolested -- whereas if we were of Hispanic heritage we would be expected to participate by siding with one gang or another, either actively or passively.

Most of the violence is "low key" (as compared to massive gunbattles in the streets), and perpetrated by Hispanics upon Hispanics -- home invasions, one-on-one shootings, stabbings, and is often alcohol- or meth-fueled.

Because the majority culture is largely unaffected, people tend to say "as long as they just do it to each other" and turn a blind eye. But the cost is staggering for law enforcement, incarceration, and impaired business climate.

If the current administration were to admit anything near the quality-of-life and economic impact of violence committed by illegal immigrants, and the influence of the cartel gangs upon all citizens of cities and towns in the US, it would have to face up to the real problem: No coherent policy on enforcing immigration laws.

As it is, many if not most of the cartel-connected criminals in the US exist in an undocumented legal twilight zone, and travel freely back and forth between countries.

That's all true, bird, but I think you're missing the point. If they declare it an emergency they have to take action that will upset the NRA, and they just can't afford that fight right now. Until they're ready to restrict gun sales, there CANNOT be an emergency.