Reader comments
In our opinion: Don't ignore border woes

Tekakaromatagi | 6:07 a.m. July 17, 2009

A lot of the guns that are arming drug gangs in Mexico are being bought in the US then smuggled to Mexico.

I support the 2nd amendment. But is there a way to limit purchases of guns and still preserve the right of people to bear arms?

We can tell Mexico, control your drug smuggling. They will rightfully say, "We will when you control your arm smuggling and your drug demand." If the drug dealers win in Mexico, they will coming north next, and they are. They are getting into the methamphetamine business. There were some who were arrested in Seattle. And they had a 0.50 caliber pistol that would blow a big hole.

Tekakaromatagi

John A. | 6:45 a.m. July 17, 2009

America has the ability to stop mexican drugs and illegal immigration dead in it's tracks. The question is; do we want to? If we do not, we deserve the outcome it will produce. I say we, as citizens, demanf the the government stop mexico at the border and end the problem.

Paul | 7:22 a.m. July 17, 2009

Ditto, John. Is the US going to check everyone at the border and only allow illegal migrants, while stopping drug smugglers? If we put enough troops on the border to stop all illegal activity going either direction, then maybe that would solve all kinds of problems in both countries.

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 7:24 a.m. July 17, 2009

This would not be such a problem if the U.S. did not have such a voracious appetite for drugs. The root of the problem is us.

Brother Chuck Schroeder | 8:59 a.m. July 17, 2009

OH YEA. Utah, don't ignore the southern border's and let the Mexican Drug Lord cartel's get their stash cross the border into the US, and, then there is Canada also, those border's to don't forget. On the other hand, don't drop YOUR guard either, on this, that those drug monies support. TERRORIST'S. Has Limbaugh talked about this?. A group committed to establishing an international Islamic empire and reportedly linked to Al Qaeda is stepping up its Western recruitment efforts by holding its first official conference in the U.S. Hizb ut-Tahrir is a global Sunni network with reported ties to confessed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Al Qaeda in Iraq's onetime leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. It has operated discreetly in the U.S. for decades. Now, it is coming out of the shadows and openly hosting a July 19 conference entitled, The Fall of Capitalism and the Rise of Islam, at a posh Hilton hotel in a suburb of Chicago. Hizb ut-Tahrir insists that it does not engage in terrorism. Did YOU know about this?.

Phantom Panther | 9:38 a.m. July 17, 2009

Perhaps I've been misinformed about Mexico. According to Doug Wright and most of the Deseret News articles I read, all of these "Lamanites" are good guys (superior to us US residents). We are supposed to fulfill prophecy (in their opinion) by allowing them to flood the US, take jobs they have no right to, and pretty much do whatever they want. Then again, this report on lawlessness south of the border seems merely a magnified copy of the situation we are experiencing here these days (government corruption, law breakers extolled by business and religious leaders, criminals roaming freely, drugs and gangs growing in strength, etc.) Utahns had better wake up and insist their elected leaders put a stop to Mexico's invasion of our country through illegal immigration. Or, pretty soon, Mexico's wars will be taking place right in our own neighborhoods.

Vigilant | 12:07 p.m. July 17, 2009

The crime problem in Mexico is indeed serious.

Our first response should NOT be to ignore those breaking U.S. laws by illegally entering the U.S.

Close the borders. Ruthlessly enforce immigration laws to demand respect for ALL our laws.

Then we can talk about Mexican failure to enforce their laws.

Criminal behavior must not be tolerated at any level in either country.

Obama ignoring the problem | 12:37 p.m. July 17, 2009

The Obama Administration is ignoring this problem. They have the numbers to pass ANY solution they want, they know that, but they have propose NOTHING and passed NOTHING to help solve this problem.

Seems politicians see pandering to the illegal immigrant community and promising them more entitlement programs is a good way to insure more votes.

wallofvoodoo | 12:38 p.m. July 17, 2009

Stop the demand. Put money into drug rehab facilities & programs rather than only prisons.

The reason we are to this point is that both parties agree on lax border security for different reasons. Dems to get more votes, Reps to get more money for their war chests. We need government that will stand up to the special interests & say enough is enough.

Joe Moe | 12:51 p.m. July 17, 2009

I can appreciate the thesis of the article, but the writer is pretty condescending. About as many people know about as much about what's happening in Mexico's drug wars as know about what's happening in Sotomayor's confirmation. In other words, a lot of educated people are following along, while there are lots of people who aren't. That's just the way it is.

As to the invitation to do something about it, most of us just have to say, "Sure, I'd love to, just like I'd love to work on the recession problem. Now, how?"

We'd all love the drug demand to go away. Not happening.

Many of us would love for the border to be secure. Not happening. (Even when Republicans had the levers of power, they couldn't get it done. You think the Democrats are going to try to keep their future voters out?)

Do we stop trying? No. But realistically, all I can see for us to do is keep spurting the rhetoric. Just like this article did.

Stewart | 1:28 p.m. July 17, 2009

In Iraq they blow people up, and in Mexico they shoot them. More Mexicans have been killed in each of the last two years than Iraqis. It appears to be more dangerous living in Mexico than Iraq.

The United States has the ability and resources to close the border to both drugs and illegal aliens. So then the question, why don't we? The answer is money and political power, and both of these rub together.

In order to close the border most legal trade would have to be restricted, both ways. This would increase the cost of much of what we import from Mexico, but most of all it would severely cut profits of companies operating in Mexico, but selling their "stuff" in the U.S.

The cheap labor employers would have to pay more in wages to those legally in the U.S. This would increase unskilled labor wages and increase the cost to consumers. Some folks may even have to cut their own grass.

The increase in the cost of illegal drugs (due to shortages) to addicted users could create riots, robbery, theft and other problems as addicts try to cope.

I say close the border!!

@ The News | 2:13 p.m. July 17, 2009

I still cannot understand the schizophrenic DN's. One day they are extolling the virtues of our open border policies, and the next day civilization as we know it is on the brink.

Does this editorial group not understand that many of us have been warning for decades not only about the overall injustice effecting our social, financial, security, identity, and our very lives and well being from illegal immigration, but also about the danger of the drug cartels getting an established stronghold within our neighborhoods with virtually an official nod of acceptance.

While reaping the wrath of the DN's who routinely charged us with being racist, non compassionate, selfish, unenlightened, and on and on, we kept talking.

Now all of a sudden our world is in peril. Where have you been?

Anonymous | 2:15 p.m. July 17, 2009

I don't mind a debate on issues, but for crying out loud, stop blaming Obama for everything!

Hey you | 4:19 p.m. July 17, 2009

DN you should go further in your editorial and suggest that the United States provide more resources to fight these cartels, or what should more apppropriately be labeled as "secret combinations."

Since guns are going south and drugs are coming north, this is as much our problem as Mexico's. We are responsible for the coming and going that motivates and facilitates this corruption.

Disregard those who suggest isolationism as an answer. It never works generally and certainly will not work when you are dealing with secret combinations.

And Phantom, when you change your heart regarding the Lamanites and help them blossom as a rose. You may find some day they will bless your life.

Willie12345 | 4:28 p.m. July 17, 2009

A lot of people are paying attention. Unfortunately, none of them work for our fed. government. Citizens have spoken very loudly about this issue, plus all of the illegal activities surrounding the border. The federal gov. does nothing, but talk about it. There are visits to the border states to talk about the problem, but nothing other than just talk. Only when the drug cartels move their capital city to Salt Lake will anything be done. At that will be too late. Lock your doors, we're in for some really tough times.

@ Hey you | 6:12 p.m. July 17, 2009

"Disregard those who suggest isolationism as an answer. It never works generally and certainly will not work when you are dealing with secret combinations."

What? If by isolationism you mean securing the borders you are dead wrong like the brain dead Washington elitists who still believe you can maintain order by implementing a policy of chaos. It is the equivalent of letting the prison population out at point of the mountain and then installing cameras on every street corner trying to catch the perpetrators after the crime has been committed.

And by the way who are the lamanites? A few years ago it was the Native Americans. Now it is the Mexican nationals. Next it will be the Asian people.

To-Tekakaromatagi | 7:39 p.m. July 17, 2009

Just to set the record straight, the news has been misreporting the amount of guns smuggled into Mexico. What has been reported was that 98% of TRACEABLE GUNS (guns with serial #) have been traced back to the U.S. What has been misreported is that the TRACEABLE GUNS are guns that originated in the U.S. It's like saying 98% of the cars that are made by GM come from GM, that doesn't account for other car manufacturers.
Guns from the U.S. account for less than 15% of the guns seized in Mexico. Another thing that has been misreported is that among those numbers are weapons given/sold to Mexico from our own government. Weapons that are used by the military and police have ended up in the hands of the cartels. Shown in raids are M-16 with Grenade launchers, something that you cannot go down to your local gun shop and purchase. A large number of weapons seized are actually Chinese AK-47 without serial numbers which indicats that it did not originate in the U.S.
Just setting the record straight.

Anonymous | 10:38 p.m. July 17, 2009

Yeah Tekakaromatagi, stop using liberal myth numbers.

Hypocrisy | 9:18 a.m. July 18, 2009

Americans don't pay attention to Mexico because Rush and Sean prefer to talk about the EVILS of the Middle East.

The truth is, we don't need to go around the world to start wars and battle evil people. We could just go a few miles south of the border!

I agree, Americans should be paying more attention to what's going down there in Mexico. But what gain does AM Radio get from that?

Hey You | 10:44 a.m. July 18, 2009

@ Hey you,

You are the one who is "dead" wrong. Isolationism does not work and never has. Why do you think throughout world history wars are started to prevent the spread of whatever from invading.

Today we are in Afganistan to stop the spread of terrorism. Using your appraoch all we would have to do is put fences up around every country in the world and none of us would have any more problems--no WW1, WW2, Vietnam, Irag, or Afganistan

As to your other question, it has been so declared by the prophets repeatedly the Lamanites are those with native blood of North and South America and the Islands. You may want to doubt that, I will not.

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