Sad part is, many of the US-bought guns were sold by the ATF to the cartels to track them. Look up 'Project Gunrunner'. It has resulted in the deaths of many Americans and Mexicans. Could be one of the biggest political scandals in a long time if more would report it. Its not America's freedom to own guns, but mostly one of the worst projects of all time concocted by Eric Holder and the ATF.
The best, fastest, cheapest and smartest way to deal with it would be wholesale legalization of drugs - pot first, then eventually everything else once everyone saw that it wasn't the harm to society as previously thought.
The Mexican drug wars are no different than the mobster violence during the United States' prohibition. Illegal activities have a way of bringing out the worst kind of people, and empowers them to get bigger and stronger than they should be. By legalizing and regulating drugs, you would put the cartels out of business, as they could not compete with legal, American growers.
Studies show that the legalization of Pot would result in a $50 billion dollar a year savings for the government between ending the War of Drugs and tax revenues. The number doubles to nearly $100 billion if other drugs are made legal.
As others have said, and Portugal is proof that, legalization does not result in more usage of drugs. Its actually the opposite, as people try the drugs and as they are no longer are taboo, realize they are stupid and get off the drugs. Portugal de-criminalized even hard drugs, and saw a 70% reduction in usage of hard drugs like Heroin over a 6 year period.
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.
