Archive for the ‘War’ Category

The Stolen Valor Act

October 11, 2010

The Stolen Valor Act was written with, and for the express purpose of punishing those people that make false claims about their military service, particularly such claims that claim combat decoration.

The law has been challenged, supposedly based upon free speech rights. I think that the real reason is that the damned posers that were convicted are not man enough to do the time for their crime.

Poser’s, don’t do anyone any good. I don’t care if you are an academic poser, such as those that use mail order degrees in order to gain an edge in employment. A Public Service poser, such as the idiots that claim to have been a Paramedic but in fact, barely passed Advanced First Aid… Then, we have those that embellish their actual service. Sometimes even when they did have a very good past in the military, but sullied it by making false claims. A Navel Veteran, that actually was a “River Rat” made claims that he had been a SEAL. Then, there are the real con artists. People that were never even near a military base but make all sorts of claims…

I think that all of the above, are dishonorable, and despicable, and, if used for social or monetary gain criminal.

Well, the Stolen Valor Act is going before the SCOTUS.

Read about that HERE.

Epic Fail obama: American Civilian Gunned Down In Cold Blood On Mexican Border

October 8, 2010

Obama has still not responded to the heartbreaking and shocking news of last week’s murder of American civilian David Hartley. “How many more American citizens have to die?” said Texas Governor Rick Perry as he challenged Washington to get its act together.

Hartley and his wife Tiffany were jet skiing on Falcon Lake, which straddles the Texas border between the U.S. and Mexico. While they were sight-seeing they were savagely ambushed and attacked without provocation by Mexican pirates. The pirates swooped in mercilessly on speed boats and gunned down David Hartley in cold blood. Tiffany was unable to recover her husband’s body after he was shot in the head, and she fled the attackers back to the U.S side of the lake in order to get help.

Tell The Congress No Amnesty – Secure the Border NOW!
SELECT HERE – Stop Amnesty – Defend Arizona

The pirates are believed to be a part of Mexican drug cartels which are notoriously active in the area. Cartel violence and the entire U.S.-Mexico border are so out of control now that the Mexican government has finally dispatched its military to deal with the gangs. However, the Mexican military seems to have no effect on the brutal cartels.

What has Obama done about escalating U.S. losses? Nothing but post signs telling Americans to stay away from border areas on U.S. soil and RUN AWAY from killers in our own backyard!!! Well, I guess even a jet ski is just not fast enough.

This savage killing is just another tragic result of the Obama administration not securing the border and leaving U.S. citizens defenseless to completely unacceptable and totally avoidable murders known to be perpetrated by ruthless Mexican drug runners.

Just last spring Rancher Robert Krentz was killed by an illegal alien believed to have ties to the drug cartels on his own land. Krentz’ murder was the flashpoint which ignited the controversial Arizona immigration enforcement legislation signed into law by the Governor of AZ and promptly stayed by the Obama Justice Department. The outrage over the open border has only grown since then. Americans want the border sealed and the flow of illegal criminals, thugs and drugs pouring over the border stopped!

However, the Obama administration has done nothing to combat this crisis. The safety of American citizens relies on signs posted 70 miles inside the border saying that American soil is no longer safe and AMERICAN CITIZENS are not allowed on their own land. This is an unprecedented act of cowardice, ceding sovereign U.S. territory to alien banditry, and Obama is the first American President to ever passively and preemptively concede American land to foreign terrorists.

Governor Perry is right to be outraged! He is doing everything he can to make sure the body of David Hartley is recovered. Mexican authorities aren’t allowing U.S. officials to enter the Mexican waters of Falcon Lake to aid the search. Mexico City district attorney Marco Antonio Guerrero Carrixales said recently that they, “are not certain that incident happened the way that they are telling us.” Tiffany Hartley is convinced, as are many others, that Obama could bring more pressure on the Mexican government to exert itself against the cartels to recover the body. Governor Perry responded by saying, “I find it really reprehensible for anyone, U.S. or Mexican, to speak otherwise” about Tiffany’s claims.

Perry has again beseeched Washington for more troops and support on the border. He spoke to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s chief of staff on Tuesday and made a request for 1,000 National Guard troops for the Texan-Mexican border — a request that was promptly denied.

Washington cares more about its political standing with a country that can’t even police itself than for the safety and security of its own citizens. They should be ashamed of themselves. How many innocent Americans have to be murdered before Obama acts? In any other time these killings and invasions would constitute an act of war. All American citizens ask for is a closed and secure border, so we can safeguard the people of this country.

Obama and the Democrats have already put the Amnesty wheels in motion as orders are out to scuttle ICE raids of companies hiring illegal workers, remove key elements of 287G policies that give local law enforcement the ability to arrest illegal aliens, and to set the stage for the in-take processing of millions of illegal aliens so as to grant mass AMNESTY TO ILLEGALS.

Obama lied to Governor Jan Brewer of AZ in the Oval Office. Obama committed to present details within two weeks of meeting Gov. Brewer, regarding his plans for sending National Guard troops to the Arizona border and spending $500 million on border security.

Well, time’s been up for MONTHS, Obama did nothing, and CONGRESS in fear of facing their constituents at home passed a head-fake border security “beef-up” bill that will wallow in bureaucratic limbo. Gov. Brewer is not waiting for Obama to do the job. And neither are the rank-and-file officers and employees of ICE Enforcement and Removal — who have passed a unanimous “Vote of No Confidence” in their Obama- appointed Director, John Morton! Obama’s biggest action has been in retreat — in surrender to the Mexican Invasion he put up new Federal border signs warning Americans to stay away, as he cannot protect them if they travel within southern Arizona. More signs will no doubt be shipping into Texas, next!

AZ and TX need your help – do not leave them to defend the border alone!

Gov. Brewer has stated, “We need action from the federal government, not signs ceding sovereign U.S. territory to international drug cartels and human smugglers.” Brewer sent a letter to Obama outlining her Four-Point Border Action Surge Strategy. This strategy contains most actions advised in the 2005 Norwood Minuteman Report, and the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps Project has been calling for these vital actions to be implemented for 5 years — and whole-heartedly supports them TODAY. As Gov. Brewer enumerated in her Four-Point Strategy to Obama:

  1. National Guard Personnel and Aviation
  2. Border Fence
  3. Enforce Federal Law and Appropriately Fund the Effort
  4. Reimburse States for the Additional Burden of Illegal Immigration

We Say, “Defend AMERICA” — Obama And Feds Do Nothing but Sue AZ!

The tragedy is that the escalating violence in our southern sector could have been prevented years ago, and countless innocent American lives saved, if the federal government had responded to our warnings and recommendations, and had acted decisively for a secure border patrolled by the National Guard and a border fence! The level of accelerating violence and social chaos that has the President of the United States now ceding our territory to international bandits is the direct responsibility of the United States Government, and its gross dereliction of its duty under the U.S. Constitution.

The Obama Administration was and still is grossly negligent in their sworn oaths of office to protect the sovereignty of the United States. The government did not do its job and was complicit in the act when foreign nationals invade American soil and killed innocent U.S. citizens! And now the situation only worsens, as Obama plays politics with border security, and his Justice Department STOPS Arizona for acting to save American lives, property and sovereignty!

Why is Washington’s response to try to SUPPRESS Arizona’s proper and Constitutional defense of our people and lands from foreign invasion? The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps sounded the alarm 5 years ago and this border crisis could have been prevented if the federal government had done its job!

Support Brewer – DO NOT LET Obama Put More Americans at Risk.

Obama lied to Governor Jan Brewer of AZ in the Oval Office. Obama committed to present details within two weeks of meeting Gov. Brewer, regarding his plans for sending National Guard troops to the Arizona border and spending $500 million on border security.

Well, time’s been up for MONTHS, Obama did nothing, and CONGRESS in fear of facing their constituents at home passed a head-fake border security “beef-up” bill that will wallow in bureaucratic limbo. Gov. Brewer is not waiting for Obama to do the job. And neither are the rank-and-file officers and employees of ICE Enforcement and Removal — who have passed a unanimous “Vote of No Confidence” in their Obama- appointed Director, John Morton! Obama’s biggest action has been in retreat — in surrender to the Mexican Invasion he put up new Federal border signs warning Americans to stay away, as he cannot protect them if they travel within southern Arizona. More signs will no doubt be shipping into Texas, next!

AZ and TX need your help – do not leave them to defend the border alone!

Gov. Brewer has stated, “We need action from the federal government, not signs ceding sovereign U.S. territory to international drug cartels and human smugglers.” Brewer sent a letter to Obama outlining her Four-Point Border Action Surge Strategy. This strategy contains most actions advised in the 2005 Norwood Minuteman Report, and the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps Project has been calling for these vital actions to be implemented for 5 years — and whole-heartedly supports them TODAY. As Gov. Brewer enumerated in her Four-Point Strategy to Obama:

  1. National Guard Personnel and Aviation
  2. Border Fence
  3. Enforce Federal Law and Appropriately Fund the Effort
  4. Reimburse States for the Additional Burden of Illegal Immigration

We Say, “Defend AMERICA” — Obama And Feds Do Nothing but Sue AZ!

The tragedy is that the escalating violence in our southern sector could have been prevented years ago, and countless innocent American lives saved, if the federal government had responded to our warnings and recommendations, and had acted decisively for a secure border patrolled by the National Guard and a border fence! The level of accelerating violence and social chaos that has the President of the United States now ceding our territory to international bandits is the direct responsibility of the United States Government, and its gross dereliction of its duty under the U.S. Constitution.

The Obama Administration was and still is grossly negligent in their sworn oaths of office to protect the sovereignty of the United States. The government did not do its job and was complicit in the act when foreign nationals invade American soil and killed innocent U.S. citizens! And now the situation only worsens, as Obama plays politics with border security, and his Justice Department STOPS Arizona for acting to save American lives, property and sovereignty!

Why is Washington’s response to try to SUPPRESS Arizona’s proper and Constitutional defense of our people and lands from foreign invasion? The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps sounded the alarm 5 years ago and this border crisis could have been prevented if the federal government had done its job!

Support Brewer – DO NOT LET Obama Put More Americans at Risk.

But please, remember what is at stake — the security, the safety, the sovereignty — very possibly the very survival of not just Americans, but America herself.

For more information go to www.MinutemanHQ.com

Edited to cut out the spam, and constant begging for bucks. Which made up for a lot of the story!

Obamination: Just doing his job? Or was this sincere?

October 6, 2010

The post World War Two Democrats have been exceedingly disdainful of the United States Military. Yet, this impostor in chief that we have now did give what appeared to be a moving, and thoughtful dissertation with regards to a war that is in all of our faces. Yet appears to be among his greatest failures.

Was all this real? Or, yet again, simply politics.

Simply based upon my childhood background I was exposed to several Men that had earned the Medal of Honor. Merry, who sometimes deems it worthy to post here had one such man living next to her as she grew up. I myself had three such extraordinary people involved in my daily life. Such is the life of a Marine Corps brat…

Let me tell you something about such Men. They never brag, and in fact, attribute any thing that they may have done to a love for their fellows. They are, one and all, unassuming. They simply believe that they did what they did because it had to be done. To quote one Man, “Nobody else could fight, so I had too.”

The BHO, I think, is simply capitalizing on what happened.

Where as; People such as Myself, Merry, Maine, Fred, and so many others? Simply hold such Men in the highest level of respect, honor, and as templates for those that will follow. Audie Murphy would be proud of what this very young man did. Gads, a Special Forces Team Member at that age..? He had to be good! Back in the day? It took a few more years, rank notwithstanding, to make it onto an A-Team. This young Man, was an American Warrior, the real deal.

Gads… I simply do not trust this man…

Go HERE

Read about this outrage HERE

Would it be comical if your daughter or your son or your niece or nephew was lying in the street dead?

October 2, 2010

The travesty of the Obama Administration ahd the Federal Government in their persistent failure to enforce U.S. law on illegal aliens has resulted in more American deaths near the southern border.

This time, the Mexican drug cartels have illegally invaded certain areas of the American southwest (with absolutely no action by the federal government) set up shop to engage in drug running and weapons trafficking, the murder of U.S. citizens, and in some areas human smuggling.. .
According to the El Paso (Texas) Times:
“Authorities confirmed Wednesday that two Mexican drug cartels have made their way into southern Doña Ana County.
“An ongoing investigation into Mexican drug- and weapons-trafficking organizations has resulted in four seizures totaling more than $400,000, authorities said.
“The investigation is “absolutely … related to two drug cartels operating out of Juárez,” Doña Ana County sheriff’s investigator Bo Nevarez said.
“Most recently, $40,000 in U.S. currency was seized in an overnight operation targeting a Mexico-bound car the night of Sept. 23.”
In another major development, the increasing deadly violence against Americans on our own soil is of great concern to residents in our border states.  Michelle Malkin reports that as TV personality Stephen Colbert appeared before the Democrat-controlled Congress to make a mockery of the push to stop illegal immigration, the citizens who actually live in the area are dead-serious about the problem.  The reason?  Their lives are at stake.
Malkin posts a letter to Colbert written by the aunt of a young U.S. citizen who was gunned down by an illegal alien:
“Dear Stephen Colbert,
“In preparing this open letter to you, I am literally fighting back the tears! It truly breaks my heart that so many people in positions of power and authority continue to make light of illegal immigration!
“Are you aware of, and/or concerned with the fact, that American citizens and legal immigrants are murdered everyday by illegal aliens? Have you ever spent one second thinking about that?
“In speaking to Congress today, do you think you would have prepared anything different if one of your love ones was murdered by an illegal alien? You think you would make fun of this illegal alien invasion if you lost a loved one to this crime?
“What if your mother was shot in the head by an illegal alien? Do you think you could make that funny? What about your children? Would it be comical if your daughter or your son or your niece or nephew was lying in the street dead, shot in the head, by someone living in this country illegally?”  (Excerpt).
Add this to what we already know about the federal government essentially turning over U.S. land to illegal alien Mexicans near the southern border, the order from the White House for the military not to apprehend or detain illegals, and the continued deadly attacks on Americans, and it is clear that the U.S., under this Democrat/Marxist controlled regime, is turing the country into an unmitigated disaster.
Be sure to catch my blog at The Liberty Sphere.

It’s just too bad that Anthony and Fred can’t make up. They would be a team to be reckoned with…

Combat soldier in Iraq exposes Obama lies

September 30, 2010

Stolen, with permission, from Anthony at The Liberty Sphere;

Just a few weeks ago Barack Obama proclaimed to the nation that the U.S. ‘combat mission in Iraq is over.’

This gave the public the false impression that all U.S. combat forces in Iraq were being called back home and that there would be no futher U.S. involvement in fighting.  Our only continued role, accodring to Obama, would be to ‘advise and assist’ the Iraqis.
But one soldier who is still in Iraq, and is still engaged in combat for the foreseeable future, exposes the Obama pronouncement as a lie.
The following is an actual email from the soldier, which has been forwarded by scores of Americans via email:
“Hey, everybody I just wanted to send a quick update and give Yall the REAL story on what’s going on over here with the troop withdrawal…..The reason I’m sending this out is because I have had a few people ask if I left Iraq early because all of the combat troops are out of Iraq and I wanted to let everyone know the real deal.  It’s kind of ridiculous how the news is saying that the last of the “combat” troops are out of Iraq because of Pres Osama ( I mean Obama ).  He says that it was his campaign promise.  Take our Brigade for example.  We were originally called a HBCT ( Heavy Brigade Combat Team).  Well since Obama said he would pull all of the “combat” troops out by Aug all they did before we left was change our name from a HBCT to a AAB ( Advise and Assist Brigade ).  We have the same personnel/equipment layout as before and are doing the same missions.  The ONLY difference is that they changed our name from a HBCT to an AAB and that’s how he is getting away with saying that he has pulled all of the “combat” troops out.  It is really ridiculous what he’s doing and he has ticked alot of people off.  And it’s funny how the media is buying all of it, too.  So no the last combat troops are not out of Iraq we are still here.  There are other Brigades just like ours that are doing the same missions that are still over here.  Sorry for going on about it but we are just sitting over here watching it and are like “You’ve got to be kidding me!”  So anyway now you know the REAL story so that’s why I’m not coming back early.  You have to watch those liberals, their sneaky!  Anyways, I hope everyone is doing well and I’ll see you soon!”
This soldier’s courage in telling the real truth only further confirms the fact that Barack Obama has lied incessantly to the American people, as this column has stated on numerous occasions.  The only thing Obama has changed so far is the name of the brigade.  The name was changed so that Obama could claim all combat operations were drawn to a close.  But as the soldier relates, the mission remains.  The brigade is still involved in heavy combat for the foreseeable future despite the name change from ‘Heavy Brigade Combat Team’ to ‘Advise and Assist Brigade.’
Conservative Examiner has also learned that the White House has initiated a special ‘Honor Our Troops’ stunt in order to give Americans the impression that ‘our boys (and girls) are coming home from Iraq,’ when in fact nobody is coming home right now except for a few  The troops will stay in place until next year, and even after that 50,000 of our troops will be yet in harm’s way, involved in heavy combat in their new ‘advise and assist’ mission, at least until the end of 2011.
This deft sleight-of-hand maneuver in changing the wording and engaging in a campaign of distraction has become all too familiar with this White House.
Obama enlists scores of news outlets to tout his ‘victory’ in bringing home the troops, when in fact they are not coming home presently.  Thus, the campaign is one of propaganda.  And this is not even to mention that the mission in Afghanistan has been vastly expanded and intensified with no end in sight.
The mission in Iraq was a success under George W. Bush as a result of the troop surge.  But Obama wishes to take the credit, although he peristently opposed the Iraqi mission from day one.  He claims, however, that  he supported the Afghan mission, which again is a questionable claim, given that Bob Woodward in his latest book indicates that Obama refuses to use the word ‘victory’ in the mission, and the White House staff had severe misgivings about continuing the campaign–amid much infighting among the Obama team.
Thus, it is ever more apparent with each passing day that the current occupant of the White House cannot be trusted in any fashion.  Too many lies, too many misleading statements, and too many empty promises never fulfilled.
It’s time to get rid of the entire lot.
Be sure to catch my blog at The Liberty Sphere.

Profiles of Valor: U.S. Air Force CMSgt Etchberger

September 24, 2010

“Plausible denial” was the word in 1968, when some U.S. military personnel were taking the battle to the communist enemy in Cambodia and Laos as “civilians.” What was undeniable, and what finally became crystal clear decades later, was the heroism and selflessness that was exhibited by one of those men, United States Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Richard Loy Etchberger. In March 1968, a remote radar site in Laos, known as Lima Site 85, was attacked and eventually overrun. Etchberger, one of the defenders at that site, remained in his position despite heavy fire that had killed or wounded most of his comrades. Fighting with everything at his disposal, including calling in air strikes, he battled back. When med-evac helos finally came, he put his wounded comrades aboard first, braving enemy fire to get them up to safety before he himself was mortally wounded. Though he had received posthumously the Air Force Cross for his actions that day, Etchberger will now receive his full due: the Medal of Honor.

SOURCE

Profiles of Valor: U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta

September 21, 2010

Way to go AIRBORNE!

United States Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta will become the first living service member to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The White House described Giunta’s actions:

Then-Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself by acts of gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifle team leader with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment during combat operations against an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan on October 25, 2007.When an insurgent force ambush split Specialist Giunta’s squad into two groups, he exposed himself to enemy fire to pull a comrade back to cover. Later, while engaging the enemy and attempting to link up with the rest of his squad, Specialist Giunta noticed two insurgents carrying away a fellow soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other, and provided medical aid to his wounded comrade while the rest of his squad caught up and provided security. His courage and leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon’s ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American paratrooper from enemy hands.

Giunta himself was shot in the chest, though his ballistic vest prevented injury, and another bullet disabled the weapon on his back. Unfortunately, Sgt. John Brennan, the first soldier Giunta saved, did not survive surgery. They were best friends. No date has been set for the award ceremony, but we offer our sincerest thanks for Giunta’s service.

SOURCE

What does immigration amnesty have to do with defense spending?‏

September 21, 2010

Some years ago we, as in Colorado Libertarians, succeeded in getting a “Single Subject” law passed. After the idea was co-opted by the Republicans. The same thing needs to be done on a Federal level. Read on…

This week the Senate will debate a defense spending bill that will cost your family over $7,000.

The Senators ought to debate how much of this money is really needed to keep you safe, but they will instead focus on distracting and divisive issues like gays in the military and abortions in military hospitals. Even worse . . .

Majority Leader Reid shows signs of wanting to attach an unrelated immigration amnesty bill to the defense measure. This immigration bill is called the DREAM Act, and it has us DREAMing of our proposal for a One Subject at a Time Act.

DREAM’s primary purpose seems good. Undocumented youths who were raised in the United States, and graduated high school, would be eligible for a 6-year path to legal citizenship that requires completion of a college degree, or two years of military service. Other provisions are more controversial, but . . .

Whether you like this bill or not, there is NO PLACE for DREAM in a Defense bill. Reid knows he doesn’t have the votes to pass this as a stand-alone bill, and that’s why he wants it attached to the Defense measure.

This is one reason government keeps growing at such a cancerous rate. Congress constantly inserts unwanted and unneeded legislation into “must-pass” bills. DownsizeDC.org has created The One Subject At A Time Act (OSTA) to end this practice.

OSTA would require each bill to address only one subject. If you support this idea, tell Congress!

Our letter to Congress says, “Please introduce DownsizeDC.org’s “One Subject at a Time Act” (OSTA). You can find the text of the legislation here: http://www.downsizedc.org/osta-legislation.”

Please also add personal comments pointing to the DREAM Act and the defense spending bill as an example of why we need OSTA. You may borrow from or copy the following sample letter . . .

Majority Leader Reid’s attempt to attach the DREAM amnesty bill to the Defense bill shows why we need OSTA:

* DREAM is ten years old, but never won the votes to pass as a stand-alone bill
* Senate debate over DREAM means less time will be spent reviewing the 1000-page, bloated, $700 billion Defense bill

No responsible legislator should ever support the corrupt practice of attaching unrelated bills together. The only CONSTRUCTIVE and PRINCIPLED way to oppose tactics like Reid’s is to introduce OSTA.

END LETTER

You can send your letter to Congress using DownsizeDC.org’s Educate the Powerful System.

I’m sure you have friends who would like One Subject At A Time Act, or oppose the DREAM amendment. Forward this to them, and retweet this message!

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

D o w n s i z e r – D i s p a t c h

Official email newsletter of DownsizeDC.org, Inc. & Downsize DC Foundation.

SUPPORT the “Educate the Powerful System”.

Remembering: The day the earth stood still 9/11

September 10, 2010

Remembering  this day… I think that perhaps the best way to honor the thirteen men that I knew, trained, and worked with might be best served by simply not posting. That is why this is an hour and fifteen minutes early. Our attention, rather, should be guided toward remembrance of those that died that day. The professionals that did their duty, and paid the ultimate price, as well as the overt victim’s.

America, as in the United States of America. Is not about bowing, even a head nod, to those that wish the destruction of Freedom and Liberty.

The “American Dream” is not about owning a home. It is not about being overpaid for the work that you do. It is not about gaining personal power. It is about having the ability to actually do those things!

Read the Declaration of Independence.

Read the Constitution.

Read the Bill of Rights.

Think about it… Being an American, philosophically is a Natural Human Right!

Time is up. I’ll post links tomorrow.

Bloomberg Felon News: Just keep on fibbing…

September 10, 2010

The Straw Purchase felon just can’t seem to get anything right, and on the anniversary of the terrorist attack on NYC at that!

No one in this country knows better than New Yorkers what “devastation” looks like. On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center buildings and their surrounding area were reduced to rubble, burying nearly 3,000 Americans. To this day, the images are difficult to comprehend; they show a concentration of man-made destruction unprecedented in the United States and perhaps anywhere on Earth.

New York’s current murder rate pales in comparison to that of 2001, of course. But it also pales in comparison to what it was in other years gone by. Due in part to crime-fighting programs adopted under former mayor Rudolph Giuliani, New York City’s murder rate is only a fifth of what it was 20 years ago.

Presumably, New Yorkers are well aware of the relative safety in which they live today.  However, the current mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has a skewed perspective even though the September 11 anniversary is front and center in every news outlet today due to other controversies.

With New York City’s and the nation’s murder rates lower than anytime since the 1960s, Bloomberg sounded the alarm, saying “Illegal guns and their accompanying violence devastate communities across our country.”

Bloomberg revisited his perennial cause célèbre —gun control—because his anti-gun group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), has issued an Issue Brief urging Congress to  “close the gun show loophole”—gun control supporters’ Orwellian “doublespeak” for “prohibit private sales of firearms at gun shows and everywhere else.”

Since U.S. crime rates are so low, MAIG invoked Mexico’s war with its drug cartels, repeating the soundbite first heard in 2009, when Attorney General Eric Holder tried to use Mexico’s problem as the excuse for reinstating the federal “assault weapons” ban. “In fact, 90% of guns recovered and traced from Mexican crime scenes originated from gun dealers in the United States,” MAIG says.

Discovering that geography is more than a subject taught in elementary and middle schools, MAIG adds its revelation that “four in ten of the U.S. guns recovered in Mexico between 2006 and 2009 were originally sold by gun dealers in Texas. The three other states that share a border with Mexico – Arizona, California, and New Mexico – were the source for another one-third of the U.S. guns.”

Of course, the operative words in the “90 percent” soundbite are “and traced.” The GAO has already reported that most guns seized in Mexico, from cartels or anyone else, have not originated in the United States. For example, GAO noted, “In 2008, of the almost 30,000 firearms that the Mexican Attorney General’s office said were seized, only around 7,200, or approximately a quarter, were submitted to ATF for tracing.” The others were not submitted for tracing, presumably in many cases because their markings indicated that they were not traceable to the U.S.

For all their effort, Bloomberg and MAIG got scant coverage by the news media. But the debate will likely continue over how many guns are smuggled from the U.S. to Mexico, what percentage of the cartels’ guns originate in the U.S., and from which countries the cartels obtain their machine guns, grenades and other weapons that are unavailable in the United States.

One thing is sure, however: Americans have greater access to U.S. guns than does anyone in Mexico, and our murder rates pale in comparison to those of our southern neighbor. For example, the murder rate of Juarez is nearly 100 times higher than that of El Paso, just across the border. If anything, that’s a criticism of Mexican laws, which prohibit honest people from getting guns with which to protect themselves.

SOURCE