U.S. soldier held in Mexico after crossing border with weapons

The Associated Press ^ | Wed, Apr. 23, 2008 | By ALICIA A. CALDWELL

[TommyDale]

Well, that’s it. He is looking at 10 to 20 years under the Bush Administration Justice Department.

[trumandogz]

Unfortunately, the Second Amendment ends in the middle of the Rio Grande.

[Army Air Corps]

...AR-15 assault rifle...

The terms "AR-15" and "assault rifle" should not be used in the same sentence.

[Moose4]

And I think the lesson here is, don’t bother eating breakfast in Meheeco. Hit a Denny’s north of the border instead. It’s less risky.

}:-)4

[trumandogz]

I wonder if he was in uniform?

[KarlInOhio]

Meanwhile Mexican Army units cross the border in armed support of drug runners and are allowed to cross back when their jobs are done.

[trumandogz]

It is a little strange that someone that does not speak Spanish would want to go to Mexico to eat.

[OldBullrider]

But Medina-Torres did not tell Mexican Authorities that he also had 70 magazines for the two weapons and 100 knives. This is what Mexican Border Guards(oxymoron) said they recovered from Torres vehicle.

[Eurale]

Senior Torres, meet your new horny cell mates.

[Lurking in Kansas]

This story is just too strange on too many levels.

There has to be more to this story.

[bmwcyle]

Yes, Bush won’t do anything. He is screwed.

[VeniVidiVici]

It is a little strange that someone that does not speak Spanish would want to go to Mexico to eat.

Perhaps he's never been. And the bridge is right there off of I-10.

Having been there once I have no desire to go back. As a Spanish speaker or not.

[trumandogz]

If he were in uniform Bush could do something however, that does not seem to be the case.

I still do not understand how he could have not realized he was driving into Mexico. There are plenty of signs that indicate that you are leaving one nation and entering another. It is not as if he was in the middle of Kansas City, Mo and accidently drifted across State Line Blvd, into Kansas City, KS.

[2banana]

Ummm - just what was he going to do with his weapons when he went to go eat - LEAVE THEM IN THE VEHICLE?

[pallis]

Dry up those tears son. I once went to Mexico with some friends, one of whom had a couple of 38 rounds in his pocket. Upon coming back across the border, we got the royal, rubber glove treatment. There are things people shouldn’t do. Going to Mexico is one of them. Going there to eat is a real no, no, and packing heat on the way to your rat burger is just plain senseless.

[trumandogz]

While in El Paso I have gone over the border to eat but I would hesitate to do so if I did not know the language and had the option of eating in a nation that spoke English. However, there have been plenty of times that I have been in a country where I did not know the language, was by myself and had to order food. It is not a very comfortable situation.

[VeniVidiVici]

I did this EXACT same thing at the exact same spot! Only difference is I was heading eastbound on I-10 and it sounds like he was heading westbound.

In 1985 I was PCSing from Monterey, CA to Ft Polk, LA. As such I had about my entire life in my car. To include plants and a .22 rifle.

Traffic was heavy on I-10 and I was in the far right-hand lane. Suddenly that lane ended - forced exit southbound, right to the bridge and into Mexico. It really didn’t register what happened. I kept thinking there was no way you could cross the border unimpeded and was looking for a parking lot or something. Nothing. Next thing I know I’m in Mexico.

Turned around at the first opportunity and approached the border. Saying I was scared was an understatement as I approached the Mexican guards because I *knew* what would happen if caught with the .22.

Fortunately, they waved me thru. The American Border Patrol stopped me however and went thru the whole agriculture products, yada, yada. With a big rubber tree in my backseat I told my story - moving, forced off the interstate, blah, blah, but leaving out the part about the rifle. She looked at me like I was completely off my rocker but let me pass.

I was never so relieved.

[trumandogz]

In college a bunch of friends and I went by land over the border and all the way down to Zihuatanejo. When we returned back to the States to cross the border a friend of mine had grass that he had bought in the U.S. taken to Mexico and taken back into the U.S. He got busted at the border.