| HN Mirror

"Iron River" - you're joking, right?

These cartels can:

- effectuate mass synthesis of illicit substances in commercial laboratories

- handle massive intercontinental logistics

- build semi-submersible boats

- hire and kidnap radio engineers to help with communications and electronic warfare

but gee, they just can't figure out how to buy a machine shop and hire or kidnap talent to make 100-year-old firearm designs - that's just too much for them?

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/atf-seizes-thousands-illegal-...

https://texasborderbusiness.com/thousands-of-trafficked-guns...

https://www.stl.news/atf-seizes-illegal-firearms-bound-mexic...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATF_gunwalking_scandal

How is this a counter argument? You are playing GOP vs. Dem games. All I am saying is that the USA is a major firearms manufacturer and exporter. That scandal just reinforced the point.

Uhhh why would they do that when they can just buy them for super cheap at industrial scale from the US?

And yes the solution to things like organized crime is always just a continuous chipping away and adding friction where you can.

Not giving them massive amounts of cheap, high quality firearms seems like a meaningful goal.

luckylion 61 days ago

I think the point was: it might be a bit more expensive for them, but it wouldn't stop them from getting guns. Guns are important to their business, they would manufacture them themselves if they could not buy them.

Would it cost them more? yes. would it be the "number 1 priority" because it's so impactful? no, obviously not.

JumpCrisscross 61 days ago

> it wouldn't stop them from getting guns

Maybe I'm overestimating the difficulty of making guns. But I'm aware of zero conflicts in which small arms were manufactured in situ. Even in e.g. Myanmar/Burma. The fact that even remote conflicts go through the trouble of importing arms suggests this might be more difficult than you suggest.

luckylion 59 days ago

They would be if it wasn't easy to import them. It's not like modern mass production has made gun violence possible because up until then it was too hard to manufacture guns.

It's similar to services: you can your own email server, but it's much more efficient to use some vendor and let them do it for you. But if all vendors cut you off, it won't be impossible for you to host your down email, it'll just be less efficient.

mothballed 61 days ago

I'm fascinated by your point on Myanmar/Burma since I'm quite sure you used that point since it's common knowledge that is the most commonly cited example of the use of in situ firearms by militia. Maybe you're inviting a debate on why you think the reports on in situ firearms reported there are false, or maybe you just randomly came upon that, but it doesn't seem a coincedence.

Myanmar/Burma the strategy was build-to-capture: make improvised, unreliable firearms that could be used to ambush security forces and take their firearms.

Evidence against the point above that it's trivial to replace professionally manufactured small arms.

JumpCrisscross 61 days ago

> it's common knowledge that is the most commonly cited example of the use of in situ firearms by militia

I wasn’t aware of this. Do you have a good source where I might learn more?

> Maybe I'm overestimating the difficulty of making guns

These are centuries-old objects. Manufacturing technology and materials science have advanced nearly 100 years since Ma Deuce first rolled off the line. Society didn't get dumber, and manufacturing has only gotten more accessible.

Just look at the current state of 3D printed firearms: they're completely useful and viable. CNC machining has never been cheaper or easier to do.

You're not addressing the argument before you, once again

It's quite evident their point is that they don't want gun control and have pre-committed to whatever opinions are necessary to prevent it, including an opinion as absurd as "having to manufacture their own firearms would not be a significant impediment to their operations."

Mass synthesis of the drugs that cartels produce is trivial (that's why they produce them)

Putting drugs on trucks is trivial (that's why they do that)

Rudimentary semi-submersible vessels are impressive but you only need a few and they're not that hard to make (again, that's why they make em)

The telecom stuff they do is legitimately pretty impressive, but this too is just significant capex for long term benefit -- not so with self-made guns which are significant capex and you get out the other side a low volume of low-quality, non-dependable, often-breaking guns.

This is a popular idea amongst American liberals who rejoice at any possible means to eliminate/curb/add friction to lawful firearms ownership and manufacturing.

Where are they buying firearms in America at an "industrial scale?" An AR-15 receiver can be turned out in tens of minutes on a fast VMC - good luck stopping this.

What’s the relevance of who “this is a popular idea” to? It’s either a good idea or it’s not.

If it’s so easy, then why aren’t they doing that today and instead we just encounter thousands of guns bought in the US? Must be because that’s easier, correct?

I get the sense you’re a bit pre-committed to your position here though and perceive this as a bit of an identity question.

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/report/firearms-trace-data/fire...

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/nfcta-volume-ii-par...

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/report/firearms-trace-data/fire...

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-322

https://www.gao.gov/video/weapons-recovered-arms-trafficking...

Yep, just keep spamming these links. I'll keep milling, good luck with your agenda.

Yes, showing the preponderance of evidence against your easily disproven argument is actually "my agenda." Great job on calling that out.

I grew up hunting. Like any other redneck, I fired a .308 at 13yrs old, and yes it knocked me to the ground, lol. Skinned a dear that same year. I just didn't choose to make guns my entire identity.

All I am stating is the obvious. The USA is a major firearms manufacturer and exporter.