The cross-border bullet trade

"But bullets are a commodity almost as unregulated as milk or bread, with no record-keeping requirements, no limits on the number of bullets an individual can purchase, and no way to disqualify potential buyers based on criminal history."

"Bullets" of course are simply the projectile fired from the weapon. I'll assume the author is referring to ammunition in the piece. The above is true but is consistent with our beliefs that where the the guns are and who has them is none of the government's business. That is America. The author's implication that this should not be so if offensive.

The border is a two way street. If Mexico is concerned with what comes across, they are free to stop it.

Also, let's be serious for a minute. How much ammunition could a store like "Kirkpatrick's" have? Military like operations require tens of thousands of rounds. I just don't see these quantities being bought in the U.S. and brought back across. And, if these quantities are in play, they should be discoverable.

Only in America. What do we need guns for in the first place.

What has been happening the last few years in Mexico is so distressing that it has forced me to reconsider my retirement there.
I have been travelling to various parts of Mexico since 1967.
Yet I have never felt so uncomfortable visiting it as I have recently.
Granted, not all parts of the country are dangerous...but even touristy Cancun is not immune to drug-infected violence.
A great fear now seems to permeate the entire country's psyche.
And, the U.S. shares MUCH responsibility for the deterioration.

This excellent report on the huge quantities of ammo allegedly sold by US border merchants...along with the many gun/rifle straw purchases there...and the massive drug consumption that fuels the crisis of confidence...cries out for a US solution besides the so-called a few million dollars from Merida solution.

Limiting ammo sale quantities would be a good start.

Shame on those American merchants who sell vast quantities of ammo without checking identification. They have become merchants of death!

I personally will no longer patronize Academy stores until their ammo/gun policy changes.

"The one law that applies to ammunition purchases doesn’t do much to hinder Mexican bullet-buyers: It simply mandates that buyers be U.S. citizens, but it doesn't require retailers to check."

The above excerpt from the article makes it clear - simply add a requirement that retailers check ID before making a sale. No new laws needed.
The need for law enforcement to be given the resources it needs is also obvious from the article. As usual, much talk but no action by politicians - they refuse to put our money where their mouths are. Give law enforcement the wherewithal to enforce current laws and these problems will no longer exist.

I bet this won't be published!
So socialist, so liberal...
It is obvious the "reporter" has no idea about guns, but pretends to be "objective"...
1. the guns are mostly russian made
2. the ammo can and most probably is coming in Mexico through other ways - why pay US taxes - those people may be criminals but sure not stupid
3. did you ever heard of "home made ammo" ? - obviously not
Ummm....how about the Mexican border control....oh, wait ! that country is out of control.
Well, maybe next time try to write something about .... weather.

I am glad to get this reporting from Mexico, and will be a global post reader and supporter.

But is it too much to ask for some actual objectivity?

Nowhere in this story does it even mention the fact that Mexico already has some of the most Draconian gun laws of any nation in the Americas. A regular person caught with ammunition or firearms is thrown into jail. The enforcement of these laws is so extreme that when a US resident deer or bird hunter crosses into Mexico, with a licensed guide, the authorities actually count their cartidges or shotgun shells. The ordinary citizens of Mexico are denied any rights to own firearms or ammunition, while the wealthy,the corrupt, and those who are both, have whatever they want. The ordinary citizens cannot hope to defend themselves against these drug criminals, or against the other corrupt elements of their nation that are bleeding them dry and have been for decades.

I cannot believe that the existing gun laws of Mexico are not mentioned in this story.

I feel strongly that Mr. Bensman is not really reporting a story about the illegal trade in ammunition that is fueling the violence in Mexico's struggle with the drug traders. I feel that he is, instead, writing a story about his personal belief that US gun and ammunition laws are too lax.

Leaving out the part about Mexico's gun laws is an inexcusable oversight, or else it was intentional. Either way, it is wrong. And it destroys the impact and the value of the reporting.

What I really, really hope will happen is that Mr. Bensman and other reporters will stay on the job, asking the hard questions, both of their sources and always, always, of themselves.

We need the reporting so badly now. But we don't need a debased Fox News form of it.