“I gotta believe there are a lot of guns in Tijuana. Just use them.”
Guns are forbidden to the populace. As we drove by isolated haciendas in the Mexican countryside I asked if they had guns to protect themselves from robbers. My guide explained the penalty for having a gun. I asked, “Suppose somebody broke into their house and they shot him. What would happen?” He said, “If they called the police the police would be much more interested in them and their gun than in the dead robber. They’d be arrested and prosecuted for owning a gun.” Driving down the Baha coast road we passed a house right out of a Bond film with men in black patrolling the roof with guns resembling Mac’s. I asked about that and the guide said, “Most likely a drug lord. Nobody messes with them.”
You are likely right. There are loads of guns. But they are not in the hands of anyone who would have an interest in the “caravan.”
While you are
Just North of T.J. on a Saturday night
All you hear are Shots Fired!
I did a Border Fence watch years ago
and found it very Unnerving as I
Was Unarmed.
Guns are everywhere in Mexico.
Family member ran an apartment complex in Arizona.
Renter was a college student from Sonora.
Went Christmas shopping one year, came home with boxes of semi-autos, pistols, etc.
They said, “Reuben, what are you doing with all those?!”
He said, “Taking them home for Christmas! My Dad’s ranch needs them!”
They aren’t worried about the Federales. They just bribe them. If the local Policia arrest you for guns, it’s because they know they can get a bigger bribe out of that to let you go then they can from the narcos.