Let me begin by saying that I do not consider myself a Mexico basher. I have lived here for nearly 5 years. I could just as easily live in the States. I don't out of preference. So this is not a bash. It is just an off topic post on something that occasionally pops up over on the main board.

Last week a a couple of us took a lot of flack from fellow hombres for suggesting that Mexico has more crime and social problems than the US.

In some areas the US no doubt takes the prize. I mentioned however that Mexico is 2nd in the world in the number of kidnapings per capita, after Colombia. Several people doubted that. I based the observation on a UN report that I recently read about. I have to go back and find the article. As I started to look, In just 3 days of news I found about 7 headlines regarding kidnappings. I still have to find the article. When I do, I will post it. In the meantime a sample of three days of headlines.

The one that brings to the forefront the scope of the problem refers to a program on TV Azteca hosted by Lily Tellez. The topic of the program is "How to deal with a kidnapping". It includes a nifty portion on how to " Negotiate with kidnappers"

My question is how many countries see the need to run a Primetime TV program detailing how to handle a kidnapping?

Frontera, Lunes 23, Septiembre

Secuestran una Joven, Mexicali - Young women Kidnapped, Mexicali

Frontera Martes 24, Septiembre

Secuestran hermanas de Thalia- Thalias sisters Kidnapped


Frontera Lunes 30 Septiembre

Una Joven “Levantada” este Sabado por la Noche . Young Women Kidnapped Saturday Night

Analiza Tellez el Secuestro – Lily Tellez analyzes Kidnappings

In a prime time program that took 8 months of preparation, Azteca newscaster- commentator Lily Tellez analyzes the problem of kidnappings in Mexico. One of the topics discussed “ How to negotiate with Kidnappers”

Protegeran Testigos – witnesses will be protected.

Article covers the investigation of the Kidnapping of Thalias sisters

Empresarios hablan del Secuestro – Businessmen discuss the problem of kidnapping

Today's San Diego Union had a small story about a gringo who was kidnapped this week in Tijuana and was able to untie himself and escape.

He was an American from LA who had known this Mexican guy for several years and had gone down to TJ to meet him for some reason. When he got there his amigo had another guy with him and they tied him up. They demanded $6,000, which a friend from LA was suppose to bring to his kidnappers. The guys have been attested.

BenwhowouldcallMilkmanformoney

ben your the best

I hope your kidnappers are very patient !!!

MilkywhomakeslessthanMasterbatesfavorita

Kidnapping is a growth industry in Mexico. Kidnapping for ransom is IMPOSSIBLE in a society with more or less honest police, as it is not safe to collect the ransom. Therefore, you can draw your own conclusions about corruption in Mexico.

PS,

Its pretty interesting that in the case of Thalias sisters, the police ar enot even involved. Tommy Mottola has hired some private negotiators from New York to do all the negotiating.

True story. I know a guy in Los Mochis that was kidnapped and held for $1,000,000 ransom. The family actually came up with the money and paid it. He was released unharmed. But the same day he was released, he was visited by a couple guys from the PGR. They were fishing for information. Asking if he had any idea who the kidnappers were etc. I don't remember if he said he recognized a voice or a name. But he said that he instictively knew that the prosecutor that was questioning him was involved and that if he indicated he knew who it was, he would be killed. So he played ignorant. That was 6 years ago. He has not been bothered since. But every where he goes he has an armed bodyguard. What a shitty way to live.

I love Mexico, but it is a hell of a country where the Rich are allowed armed bodyguards, but the middle class who cannot afford such luxuries are NOT allowed to own a gun to defend themselves.

A good start in Mexico would be passing a law ABSOLUTELY prohibiting the payment of ransom by anyone for any reason, and agressively prosecuting those who do.

Mexico does not let the people own weapons because they would not put up with the shit they do if they were armed. Look at chiapas for instance.

Ahora,

See that. Another thing we agree on. LOL. You are right. Most governments that ban weapons ban them to further strengthen their control over the population and not to improve the safety of the population. The governemnt is afraid of its masses. Back in 84 and 85 there was some talk about the northern states of Mexico seceeding(sp) from the Republic and petitioning the US for statehood. Nobody else in the world took it serious, but the Mexican government did.

I feel the same as Powerslave. It is not fair to bend the rules for the rich. And allowing armed bodyguard for the rich IS bending the law. There is no justice in Mexico. Justice is bought and sold as a commodity.

Also what does the fact that my aquaintance was able to come up with 1 million US cash on short notice tell you about the distribution of wealth?

Kind of like New York City, where hand guns are prohibited unless you can come up with about 8 grand for special "training" courses, in which case you WILL be allowed to own one. How many ghetto residents have 8 grand? How many fucking limosine liberals do.

This isn't necessarily true, my favorite novela star Andres Garcia got in a gun battle a few years ago with a couple of bandits somewhere in Acapulco, he had a permit to carry a firearm. Also my brother's father-in-law also has permission to own a rifle because he owns land and needs it for protection.

Rifles, of small bore, are relatively easy to get permits for, as are shotguns. Handguns are another thing entirely, but I am sure that if I was a rich novela star, in Mexico or NYC, getting a permit would be a breeze. If I was a middle class shop owner tired of getting stuck up every week, I would be quite fucked.

This will be moved to -News Flashes

I knew several people in Mexico city that had permits to carry hand guns, but they had to pull strings and pay people to do it. Therefore technically their permitis were illegal. Earlier this year and 80 year old pai-pai indian from the Ensenada area was jailed for weeks for using a .22 caliber rifle to hunt rabbits. The law is not applied equally. If you are rich they do nothing, if you are poor you are fucked.