The new 90%

Here again, the ATF is talking about the number of guns confiscated in Mexico from the cartels, and how many of them are traced to the US. Originally the press had touted the 90% of guns canard, until it was pointed out to them that that was not so.

Now the ATF is at least being a little more clear by emphasizing that the percentage is a result of the number of guns submitted for trace by Mexico, and not by the amount confiscated. There's a huge difference.

So the story is still "about 90%", which is just what the press is going to state over and over again anyways. My concerns are not just with the amount of guns now being stopped at the border that would have gone to the cartels -- I mean, buying up rifles and sending them south has got to be jacking up the prices here in the states; I would rather some productive citizen get one vice some dirty thug -- but also to the amount of illegal firepower being carried from Mexico into the US for nefarious purposes. I'm worried the focus of the ATF may be to only Mexico's advantage, and not enough of our own.

It's not too far of a stretch to think that if these guys are brazen enough to engage the Mexican army in an open shooting war on some idle Tuesday, that they would be just as brazen to cross into the US and shoot it out with some of our guys. Some ATF and Border Patrol agents may not mind a little action, but my concern also extends to some poor rancher or land owner who may run across some of these crazies.

So I guess my question is whether or not we're stopping any of this mess from coming North?

I would also like to point out that the picture in this article of the agent "inspect[ing] a 50(sic) caliber rifle", that he is actually inspecting an AK type weapon. And yes, I do see the buttstock of what looks like may be a .50, but still, the caption is wrong.