Thousands of armed vigilantes takeover Mexican town, arrest police

[Paul E Ester]

Thousands of armed vigilantes have taken over a town in Mexico and arrested police officers after their 'commander' was killed and dumped in the street.

The self described 'community police' and arrested 12 officers and the town's former director of public security, who they accuse of taking part in the killing of Guadalupe Quinones Carbajal, 28, on behalf of a local organised crime group.

The 1,500-strong force has also set up improvised checkpoints on the major road running through Tierra Colorado, which connects the capital Mexico City to Acapulco, a coastal city popular with tourists less than 40 miles away.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2300381/Vigilantes-seize-town-Mexico-shoot-tourists-commander-killed.html

Standing up for themselves against a corrupt system.

[NYC_SKP]

1. And people think it could never happen here...

The hell it couldn't.

[friendly_iconoclast]

4. It already has...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Athens_%281946%29

http://www.americanheritage.com/content/battle-athens?page=show

[Paul E Ester]

27. Finally had a chance to read that, what a great story.

“You call yourselves GIs—you go over there and fight for three and four years—you come back and you let a bunch of draft dodgers who stayed here where it was safe, and you were making it safe for them, push you around. … If you people don’t stop this, and now is the time and place, you people wouldn’t make a pimple on a fighting GI’s ass. Get guns…”

Thanks for posting it

[sylvi]

26. The "Can't happen here" mindset

The "Can't happen here" mindset is the most dangerous form of American exceptionalism.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. They can't be armed

There are laws against that in Mexico

[rdharma]

5. And they border Guatemala......

Where do you think that Galil (shown in the post below) came from?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Evil and scrupulous US gun manufacturers of course!!!

I know where the Galil is made.

[rdharma]

7. I know where the Galil is made.

Yes. Israel. Who supported the righties and their murder squads in Guatemala. The US did too.

You must have me confused with someone else. I don't blame the gun makers for Mexico's gun violence. I blame lack of laws and enforcement in the US for the tide of guns flowing into Mexico.

[friendly_iconoclast]

8. How does "lack of laws and enforcement in the US" account for guns crossing the southern MX border?

Well over a thousand miles from the US, for those without a map handy...

[rdharma]

9. I said Mexico.... not "southern Mexico"

Nice straw man!

The US has NO system to prevent mass purchases of firearms by straw purchasers.

And "thousand miles"? You mean they don't have cars in Mexico?

BTW - The Zapatistas had plenty of M-16s.

[friendly_iconoclast]

23. Uncle Sam handed out plenty of arms in Central America without asking too many questions.

Many of which were of Warsaw Pact manufacture so as to obscure their source.
In any event, do you really think the sorts of people that have this kind...



...of hard cash on hand would have any trouble finding illegal arms?

[dookers]

11. Not an Israeli Galil

Its a Beretta AR70/90 made in Italy bought by the Mexican army. A rarely seen rifle that was made in very few numbers. Probably stolen by a deserter.

By the way, Galils are no longer made in Israel and haven't for a decade now. Almost all Galil rifles in latin America are produced in Colombia.

[rdharma]

13. Yup! You're right.

After a closer look ......... a Beretta AR70/90 it is.

Isn't it against the law to steal guns from the Mexican military?

[dookers]

14. The MX military has lost 56,000 troops to desertion since 2006

Alot of these soldiers take their service weapon to sell on the black market. Its not unusual for soldiers and corrupt officers to pilfer from the various government and police armories to sell on the side.

It's against the law but whose going to stop them? The inept army or the corrupt police?

[guardian]

15. And Wayne LaPierre

personally drove the truck to deliver them.

[holdencaufield]

18. Galils are made in Guatemala?

Damn ... I was totally mistaken to believe they're made in Israel

[dookers]

19. Manufactured in Colombia by Indumil

Almost all the Galils seen in this part of the world come from Colombia. They bought the licensing for it and have been making it since the 90's. Even though the Galil is commonly associated with Israel, it only saw action with them for a few short years before they transitioned to the M16. The m16 was cheaper, more accurate, and lighter than the Galil.

I think the Galil saw more action outside of Israel. Its the main arm of South Africa, Colombia, and lots Latin American countries.

[rdharma]

20. I didn't say that.......

.... but, of course, you know that and are just trying to be "cute".

Israel sold them to the Guatemalan military. Perfect gun for the death squads.

[friendly_iconoclast]

3. There's at least one Galil at large there:

[dookers]

12. Beretta AR 70/90 made in Italy

This is a Beretta AR70/90: [img][/img]

This is an IMI Galil:[img][/img]

[rdharma]

16. Stocks fold in opposite directions.

Operatin handles on opposite sides.

Weird carry handle on AR70/90.

[dookers]

17. actually

The stocks fold the same way and the bolt handles are both on the same side.

[img][/img]

[img][/img]

The Beretta AR70 is a seldom seen rifle, so it's easy to mistake it for another rifle. Modern western infantry rifles tend to look alike.

[sylvi]

25. Our resident gun ex-spurt

Our resident gun ex-spurt's Google-Fu skills are lacking in this thread.

[spin]

10. If that happened in our nation, the community police would probably be better armed.

While I see a few that probably have real assault rifles, most seem to have bolt action rifles and shotguns. Hopefully they can stand up to the firepower the cartel's have.

Many of the vigilantes are carrying high-powered assault rifles, which may have been seized from the former security director's car.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2300381/Vigilantes-seize-town-Mexico-shoot-tourists-commander-killed.html

I have some fear that eventually cartels may begin taking over towns in the states. Disarming citizens in our nation would make this far easier. Perhaps it is time the we finally admit that we lost our War on Drugs decades ago and legalize and tax certain drugs.

[ileus]

21. don't they realize guns kill people...

[Eleanors38]

22. Perhaps there are some on DU who would oppose this action. Let's hear from them.

[AAO]

24. Taking on the police and the drug dealers. Balls of steel.

[Common Sense Party]

28. But have they all passed their background checks?

Are all of those death spewers registered?

[AAO]

29. Are you against background checks?

You sound like you have a problem with them?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

30. you sound antagonistic ....

just saying.

[AAO]

31. Nobody asked you to butt in, but you're welcome!

[oneshooter]

33. And your rudeness is unneeded, and also not asked for.

[AAO]

34. I appreciate the sentiment.

[Common Sense Party]

32. "You sound like you have a problem with them?"

Is that a question or a statement?

I asked if these vigilantes have passed their background checks. How in the world does that sound as if I am AGAINST background checks?

[AAO]

35. I thought you were being cute, since there are no background checks in Mexico.

Sorry that I misunderstood.

[gejohnston]

36. actually there are

and a very strict licencing system.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Mexico
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Mexico#Procedures_to_own_a_firearm

[AAO]

37. Well, then I'm an ass for not looking that up first. Thanks!

[AAO]

38. I apologize for 'misspeaking' as the pubes would say, or

for being 'an ass' as I would say.