Guns are effective against pirates.

I thought that maybe pirates were like vampires or something.

Surprise Surprise Surprise

Mexican officials want a ban, saying that 90 percent of guns seized in drug crimes in Mexico and submitted for tracing to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives originate in the United States, including most assault rifles.

Whoa, cowboy. “Assault rifles”?

No assault rifles in the hands of Mexican drug gangs come from the US civilian market. Zip. Zero. Nada.

The panel also notes that by legalizing most of the illegal immigrants, Mexico should be able to control the flow of illegal immigrants.

Duh.

Why not remove all speed limits on all US roads to cut down on the number of people who violate speed limits?

Via Sebastian.

Muzzles are not enough: dogs are weapons

In the UK:

There is a new weapon in town: lethal, intimidating and yet openly carried, largely with impunity.

While an illegal gun will get you ten years inside, and a knife four years, there is a weapon that can tear off a man’s arm but will get you only up to six months or, more likely, a small fine. More and more people are using their dogs as instruments of fear and attack and they are choosing certain types and breeds.

One thing that’s interesting about this is the fact that unlike gun, dogs actually do possess the capability to cause harm on their own. They are not inanimate objects like firearms and knives. The article makes that point repeatedly.

Funny that the issue of independent action (or lack thereof) is conveniently ignored by those arguing for increased gun control. (via Uncle)

Vigilante justice spreads across Mexico

Amid a drug war that has left thousands dead, rates of anti-social crimes such as kidnapping and carjacking have risen to become among the worst in the world. At the same time, conviction rates for these relatively minor crimes are as low as 5 percent.

Many readers of newspapers have also written in to commend shadowy vigilante groups that have publicly announced their appearance in crime-plagued communities.

One such group called the Popular Anti-Drugs Army materialized among farming towns in the southern state of Guerrero.

Displaying blankets with written messages on bridges and buildings, the group claimed to be made up of family men who had come together to force drug dealers off the street.

“We invite the people to join our struggle and defend our children who are the future of Mexico,” it said on one of the blankets.

The group has been linked to several killings, including the decapitation of an alleged drug dealer in December.

Defending yourself and your property is one thing. Going out to look for trouble is another.

But who knows how I’d feel if I had to put up with what’s going on down there?

Over at Murdoc Online: Well, they’ve obviously not been shooting many poodles lately

Story via Steve.

Hopefully this turns out to be a hoax: Council bans parents from play areas

Anarchy in the UK:

Only council-vetted “play rangers” are now allowed to monitor youngsters in two adventure areas in Watford while parents must watch from outside a perimeter fence…Councillors in Watford claim they are only following Government guidelines and cannot allow adults to walk around playgrounds “unchecked”.

We would do well to look across the pond and see where things have gone.

I haven’t had a chance to weigh in on the story that British police armed with automatic weapons will be assigned to permanent routine foot patrol, so head over to Kevin Baker’s.

They’ve had very strict gun control for over a decade. They are on an island. And they cannot stop criminals from getting guns despite disarming every law-abiding citizen they could track down.

Grandmother admits ‘poke’ charge

Britain:

A 71-year-old grandmother has admitted assaulting a teenager after she poked him in the chest for throwing stones at her house.

Wait. What?!?

A handout image obtained on September 10, 2009, from Britain's Ministry of Defence shows a female Afghan National Police (ANP) officer receiving weapons training on a Smith & Wesson Sigma 9 mm pistol. The first thirteen female ANP recruits will soon be joining their male counterparts. (HANDOUT/AFP/Getty Images)

From this photo gallery.