A short tour of the Juarez-El Paso border
I met Sgt. Ron Martin of the El Paso police department early in the morning, and was about to climb into his car when I found my way blocked by an assault rifle, propped up against the backseat like a faithful dog awaiting its master. A thorny issue of etiquette presented itself: Do I push it out the way? But what if it goes off and blows my brains out?
“Go in the other side,” said Sgt Ron.
Sgt. Ron was taking me on a tour of the El Paso stretch of the controversial fence built to block illegal entry into the U.S. by Mexicans fleeing their impoverished, super-corrupt homeland. You used to hear a lot about this fence, but nowadays nobody seems to care, bar a minority of hardcore pro- and anti- activists. I was surprised to see some apartments standing right up against it. I hoped they were getting a good deal on the rent.
“The residents call day and night,” said Sgt. Ron. “…about people climbing the fence, or digging under it. We have to catch them before they enter the city – after that they’re impossible to find.”
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To blow your brains out with an AR15 style rifle you would have to pull the charging handle back loading a round, take the rifle off safety, point it at your head and then pull the trigger…… Take a few gun safety courses and you wont be so afraid of inanimate objects that have to be in someones hands to cause harm. The least you will learn is how to render it safe if some carless idiot leaves it around loaded and the safety off.
For years, individuals and groups of all kinds in West Texas, have been trying to raise awareness of the escalating violence in Juarez AND El Paso … and now Fort Hancock, and the Big Bend … and so many other places. Ten years ago, it was growing concern over hundreds of women vanishing from one side of the border. Now it’s all kinds of troubles on BOTH sides of the border. You should come down here and live for a while … now THAT would make for an interesting article.
@ John- I believe the first rule of gun safety is not to mess with a gun if you don’t know anything about it, which is the wise policy I was following in the first para. Thanks for the advice, however.
@ Jeff- I’ve been out to West Texas a few times and think it’s a fascinating place. I’d love to spend more time out there.