WHEN GANGS TAKE OVER

Yesterday, on page 15A, the Miami Herald published a report by Will Weissert of the Associated Press titled “Mexican drug gangs turn to beheadings.” Apparently, drug organizations are no longer content with eliminating the competition. Using more gruesome methods of execution instill greater fear in those who stand in their way. Beheading does the trick, especially when accompanied by notes explaining the reason why a particular body “lost his head.”

This is happening in the state of Michoacán in central Mexico, where the rocky terrain and light population are a plus for drug smuggling operations. That may be part of the reason these drug cartels are getting away with murder, but not the main reason. The direct intimidation of journalists, police officers, and anybody else interfering in their business is.

Reporters know their lives are at risk, if investigations dig too deep uncovering the workings of these drug gangs. One of the notes found with a head warns people to mind their own business. In addition to terrorizing the media, the gangs scare those whose job it is to uphold the law, police officers. More than half the police force quit in one town, after receiving death threats. It appears that the drug gangs are the more powerful group of the two. Either the police are too few in number, or they do not have the resources necessary to get rid of these criminals.

Here in the United States, gangs do not wield that kind of power or control over the media or the police. Nevertheless, they inflict harm on innocent citizens and bring too much pain to our communities. Drive-by shootings and stray bullets kill somebody’s child every so often. When gangs take over, we cease to live in a civilized society. We should not condone a state of lawlessness, and must do whatever is necessary to put hardened criminals where they belong, in jail or six feet below ground. Go for it Mexico!

Recommended Reading: Ercian Testament - Part III, chapter 25 “Heaven for Humans, Hell for the Namuh.”