Mexican Drug Wars, Can We Stop Them? The drug wars in Mexico are going out of control.

The homicide rate is steadily growing due to drug related activities. If America fails to recognize this problem, an increasing number of people are going to die drug related deaths, both in America and Mexico. This paper will explore the thoroughness of border control, examine the increasing death rates, and uncover the problems caused by drugs in the U.S. and in Mexico. The death rate due to drug related deaths has been steadily rising since the beginning of the war. In this year alone more than 12, 000 people have died (Mexico: More Than...). The death toll since the start if the drug wars is nearly 30,200, said Mexican Attorney, General Chavez. Other officials estimate the death toll at about 32,000 (Mexico: More than ). Organized crime groups in Mexico cause a high majority of these deaths. In a recent survey, fifty nine percent of respondents said organized-crime groups are winning the drug war against federal forces; a different poll said eighty of the respondents believe there is more violence in Mexico than a year ago (Mexico: More than). The death tolls increase is something that worries both the Mexican government and the U.S. Government. On the other hand, many Americans are not even aware of the bloodshed occurring at the border, for Americans who live far from the border, the fighting seems remote, something happening down there a reason to think twice about a spring break trip to Cancun or Acapulco,

maybe, but little more (The drug war next door.). The problem with some peoples lack of knowledge on this on-going battle is that it isnt just some violence at the border; it is a serious threat to the country as a whole. Mexican drug cartels have a presence in some 230 U.S. cities. There have been murders and kidnappings on this side of the border (The drug war next door ). The drug wars are occurring everywhere, not just at the border. This puts everyone in danger, and people should have an idea of what kind of danger that is surrounding them. The U.S. President Obama has also recognized it and its danger to the U.S., The Obama Administration announced plans for tighter security along the Mexican border yesterday as it voiced fears that violence from a growing drugs war would spill over into the United States (US Orders Clampdown). Organized crime groups and drug cartels are not only a threat to the security of a nation, but everyone in it. Organized gangs specialize in kidnapping migrants and forcing them to turn over their money and to work for them or face death. Last year, more than 15,000 people were murdered in Mexico (Charred remains of Mexican drug wars.). They do not discriminate who, or who not to harm. They kill innocent people for no reason. An example of such a cruel act of savagery is, Police have found nine plastic bags and a barrel filled with charred human remains in Mexicos northern state of Durango, the latest grim find tied to a drug war that claimed a record number of lives last month (Charred remains of Mexican drug wars.). They have also taken a step forward and have started killing people in the press. Dozens of journalists

have been found dead. The press is being targeted so that if someone finds something out that could harm a drug cartel, or any crime group, they are removed from the picture and killed. The editorial, in El Diario, was an open letter to the drug cartels who have slaughtered tens of thousands, including dozens of journalists (A reign of terror.). The slaughter of the press is a huge problem, because without the press, how is news and valuable information to be spread? The answer is that it wouldnt be, the press is an aid to the country and its security. The Mexican government needs to do more to aggressively investigate and prosecute violence against the press (A reign of terror.). On the other hand, the US isnt doing all that it can to help prevent drug related deaths and help stop the ongoing drug war. It has recently been discovered that there are drug dealers in America that are providing the Mexican cartel with weapons. Drug dealers in the USA are arming Mexican cartels. U.S. and Mexican officials estimate that 90% of the guns used by Mexican narco-traffickers come from the U.S. (The drug war next door.). This isnt the only aid that we are providing the Cartels. The number of people jailed for drug offenses has risen from 50,000 in 1980 to half a million in 2007. The U.S. continues to have some of the highest rates of illegal drug use in the world (The drug war next door.). The combination of a high rate of drug use in the U.S.A., and the Mexican drug cartels in the country right beside is dangerous. Drug users in the U.S. dont realize that the drugs that they are abusing dont only

hurt them, and their bodies, but hundreds, maybe even thousands of innocent people. By purchasing these illegal drugs, they are funding the drug cartels that are mindlessly killing in American and Mexico. Most of the marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines and other illegal drugs abused here come through Mexico, and without U.S. demands thered be little to fight about (The drug war next door.). Therefore, the conflict is not caused by Mexico and its cartels alone, the U.S. also plays a large part in the war. Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske, said at the White House on Wednesday that reducing the demand for drugs is crucial. His many predecessors have all said the same, but maybe the mayhem in Mexico will help him convince at least some drug users that their habit is not just a risk to themselves (The drug war next door.). In any case, the U.S. government has finally started to take action about the movement of illegal guns across the border into the hands of Mexican drug cartels. An analysis of government gun-trace data by the coalition Mayors Against Illegal Guns found that many thousands of guns recovered from Mexican crime scenes and traced between 2006 and 2009 were originally sold by American gun dealers (At Last, a Border Crackdown.). In order to prevent the selling and purchase of illegal firearms, the U.S. government is now making all gun dealers who have shops near the border report the sales of the guns that were normally favored by cartels (At Last, a Border Crackdown.). Its a good thing that the U.S. government has stepped in on border control, because the security of Mexico isnt known to be as thorough.

Mexicos security apparatus is also one of the most outdated in the hemisphere. Like pre-reform Colombia, it lacks a civilian minister of defense and civilian experts on military affairs, and so there is a lack of accountability and public support for the antidrug effort (Colombia can win Mexicos drug war.). If the U.S. wants to help Mexicos government, The U.S. needs to substantially increase its commitment, but that should not include dispatching U.S. agents into Mexico itself, a move that would remind Mexicans of past U.S. intrusions (The spillover fallacy.). More than 7,000 people have been killed in Mexico this year alone by drug violence; since 2006, more than 28,000 have lost their lives. The past four years have been Mexicos bloodiest since the Mexican Revolution (Drug wars: Violence surges in Mexico.). The drug wars are not only killing vast amounts of people, but a majority of the number killed are young adults. We have already lost a generation, Jose Reyes Ferriz, the mayor of Ciudad Jaurez told the BBC. About 60 to 70 percent of those being killed now are between 14 and 24 years old (Drug wars: Violence surges in Mexico.). If this war isnt stopped, than Mexico could lose a large portion of their current generation. In conclusion, the homicide rates in Mexico are rising substantially every year and if we dont stop this war soon, the crime in Mexico will be blown out of proportion. With the U.S. commanding gun carriers to report all who buy guns favored by cartels, there is hope that the illegal trade of firearms will diminish greatly, if not completely. America needs to be informed of the war going on throughout the country, not just at the borders. Everyone should become aware of the fact that not only does drug abuse harm him or her, but many people around him or

her as well. In order to end this ongoing war, it is crucial for America to diminish the percentage of drug use in the country. I think that it is possible to end the on the border, do you?