In recent times, as the (legal) Mexican government has become increasingly frustrated at its futile attempt to curb the violence and death associated with Mexico's "War On Drugs (WOD)," government officials from President Calderon on down have increasingly turned to criticism of the United States as a means of saving official "face." President Calderon, for instance, continually rails about 1) Texas gun dealers selling firearms to the cartels, or 2) the American appetite for illegal drugs fuelling the drug war in Mexico. Absent from Mr. Calderon's continual tantrums is any real program for bringing the WOD to some kind of conclusion. I propose to Mr. Calderon that his government cease buying weapons from various "legitimate"arms dealers until he can clear cartel infiltrators from the armed forces and national police. Once President Calderon stops the leak of firearms from the government's own arsenals, only then should he rebuke Texas gun dealers for the relatively small percentage of guns that reach the cartels from their shops.
Today various Mexican officials are "condemning" the fatal shooting of a Mexican citizen, allegedly by officers of the United States Border Patrol. The only account of the shooting comes from the victim himself, who turned up in a Mexican hospital in Matamoros. The victim stated that he was shot by the Border Patrol. Although there is as much reason to doubt this account as there is to believe, let us assume for the moment that the person was indeed shot by a Border Patrolman. It turns out, as a matter of fact, that Border Patrol agents in Brownsville did indeed shoot at a Mexican national the same day that the victim turned up in the Matamoros hospital. Agents reported that a man they were approaching for questioning suddenly produced a pistol and commenced firing at the officers. Sure enough, the officers returned fire. The officers in fact believed the person was hit, but then made his escape across the border into Mexico.
Now, I don't know about you, but when my parents raised me, they taught me to respect police officers. They also explained to me that many police officers carry firearms. When someone then either shoots at an officer, attempts to stab an officer, or uses some other means of lethal force against the officer, the officer will generally fire his service weapon toward the offender to stop the use of such lethal force. I realize that not everyone had parents who explained these things to their children, but I have to believe that by the time a person reaches adulthood, he or she has seen at least one police officer at some point, whether live or on TV. I have to believe that most people realize that if they attempt to murder an officer, and do not succeed, then nine times out of ten the officer will respond. Further, I believe that most people figure out, even without their parents' assistance, that the officer in question will most likely respond to a deadly threat by applying deadly force of his own. There really is not a big surprise here.
The Mexican government, not being raised by my parents, and apparently in spite of the ongoing WOD, has chosen to condemn the United States officers who acted in their own defense. One official even stated that United States officers were using a "disproportionate amount of deadly force" during border confrontations with Mexican nationals. I believe these government officials are decrying this incident because they are so frustrated with their disability to curtail violence in Mexico, nor are they making headway against the cartels. But even in these conditions, Mexican officials should have the character to publicly recognize that officers have a right to defend themselves against deadly force. Further, they should recognize the hypocrisy in criticizing policemen for defending themselves, given the extreme measures used by federal police and the military against drug dealers throughout Mexico.
I, for one, expect and hope that police officers, of all agencies and in any nation, will continue to use force to protect themselves, including deadly force, if necessary. I hope that police officers never reach a point that they wonder about legalities and public opinion instead of defending themselves when situations arise in which lethal force is involved. Knowing that criminals are often armed, I expect and demand that police officers have the equipment at their disposal to protect me and my family against lethal threats. Accordingly, I hope that Mexican officials will stop trying to divert attention away from their failed WOD by falsely accusing United States law officers of using excessive force when they respond to armed criminals with deadly force. The Mexican police and military are certainly no strangers to the use of deadly force, killing hundreds of armed criminals each year. President Calderon and his officials must recognize that their inability to effectively execute in the WOD does not mean that officers in the United States will allow themselves to become victims of Mexico's dangerous criminals. Mexican officials must also recognize that their constant whining and tantrums are not solving their problems, but only alienating their allies across the Rio Grande.
Today various Mexican officials are "condemning" the fatal shooting of a Mexican citizen, allegedly by officers of the United States Border Patrol. The only account of the shooting comes from the victim himself, who turned up in a Mexican hospital in Matamoros. The victim stated that he was shot by the Border Patrol. Although there is as much reason to doubt this account as there is to believe, let us assume for the moment that the person was indeed shot by a Border Patrolman. It turns out, as a matter of fact, that Border Patrol agents in Brownsville did indeed shoot at a Mexican national the same day that the victim turned up in the Matamoros hospital. Agents reported that a man they were approaching for questioning suddenly produced a pistol and commenced firing at the officers. Sure enough, the officers returned fire. The officers in fact believed the person was hit, but then made his escape across the border into Mexico.
Now, I don't know about you, but when my parents raised me, they taught me to respect police officers. They also explained to me that many police officers carry firearms. When someone then either shoots at an officer, attempts to stab an officer, or uses some other means of lethal force against the officer, the officer will generally fire his service weapon toward the offender to stop the use of such lethal force. I realize that not everyone had parents who explained these things to their children, but I have to believe that by the time a person reaches adulthood, he or she has seen at least one police officer at some point, whether live or on TV. I have to believe that most people realize that if they attempt to murder an officer, and do not succeed, then nine times out of ten the officer will respond. Further, I believe that most people figure out, even without their parents' assistance, that the officer in question will most likely respond to a deadly threat by applying deadly force of his own. There really is not a big surprise here.
The Mexican government, not being raised by my parents, and apparently in spite of the ongoing WOD, has chosen to condemn the United States officers who acted in their own defense. One official even stated that United States officers were using a "disproportionate amount of deadly force" during border confrontations with Mexican nationals. I believe these government officials are decrying this incident because they are so frustrated with their disability to curtail violence in Mexico, nor are they making headway against the cartels. But even in these conditions, Mexican officials should have the character to publicly recognize that officers have a right to defend themselves against deadly force. Further, they should recognize the hypocrisy in criticizing policemen for defending themselves, given the extreme measures used by federal police and the military against drug dealers throughout Mexico.
I, for one, expect and hope that police officers, of all agencies and in any nation, will continue to use force to protect themselves, including deadly force, if necessary. I hope that police officers never reach a point that they wonder about legalities and public opinion instead of defending themselves when situations arise in which lethal force is involved. Knowing that criminals are often armed, I expect and demand that police officers have the equipment at their disposal to protect me and my family against lethal threats. Accordingly, I hope that Mexican officials will stop trying to divert attention away from their failed WOD by falsely accusing United States law officers of using excessive force when they respond to armed criminals with deadly force. The Mexican police and military are certainly no strangers to the use of deadly force, killing hundreds of armed criminals each year. President Calderon and his officials must recognize that their inability to effectively execute in the WOD does not mean that officers in the United States will allow themselves to become victims of Mexico's dangerous criminals. Mexican officials must also recognize that their constant whining and tantrums are not solving their problems, but only alienating their allies across the Rio Grande.
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