Brady McCombs of the Arizona Daily Star

This is an open letter since I have found that you and others do not answer emails, nor return calls!

To Brady McCombs,

In an article published 06.28.2009 Arizona Daily Star you took some very serious liberties and presented false information with no actual facts to back it up. Sadly I understand why you did this, after all you are looking for the promotion and that time of the year is coming up. I mean a front page article regardless of truth guarantees you that cushy spot you have been dreaming about. Unfortunately, thousands and possibly millions of people will read the drivel you wrote and use it as "fact" when in reality it is not even close.

I will address just a couple of the points of interest and hope that you will submit a retraction for the good of the public.

1. "Semiautomatic rifles such as the AK-47 and AR-15 — commonly called assault rifles — are favorites of the warring drug cartels in Mexico, which get most of their weapons in the U.S. and smuggle them south, says the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, commonly known as ATF"

FALSE While Mexico may get around 24-34% of its guns from the United States, these "guns" you talk about are far easier and less expensive to obtain from Central America, Cuba, South America, and China directly. There are no solid facts to back the numbers up to date, and in fact your 90% figure has been discounted as high up as the White House themselves.

2. "First, U.S. gun laws are rooted in the Constitution's Second Amendment, which protects the rights of U.S. citizens to keep and bear arms. That make it easier to buy guns here than in Mexico. Second, the principal agency assigned to stop criminal purchases, ATF, is grossly understaffed."

FALSE Have you ever attempted to actually purchase a gun? You talk about being at a gun show, and watching the brisk business. What you fail to mention is that NO FULLY AUTO guns can be or ARE sold at these shows. (and last check that is what was being used...) You also failed to mention that EVERY vendor inside the show itself REQUIRED an identification check, and filled out receipts etc. And of course thanks for not understanding the very constitution you are trashing.

3. "The ATF contends that cartels get two-thirds of their weapons through either "straw purchases" — they pay somebody with no criminal record to buy a gun from a licensed dealer — or by buying from unlicensed dealers who are not required to perform background checks or record sales."

TRUE and FALSE Yes the ATF contends that this is the case, however, they have NO proof to back it up. While there are a small percentage of sales "straw purchases" done that can be verified even the vaunted ATF cannot prove what they are saying.


4. "Newell insists that his agency doesn't oppose gun shows and says the ATF doesn't send agents to every show. It does so based on tips about potential criminal purchases, he said."

TRUE and FALSE What you failed to mention as did Mr. Newell is that Gun shows in the South West tend to get a very solid presence of ATF/ FBI/ or Sheriffs deputies in attendance. (if you would like I will go with you next time and I can introduce you to them all!)

5. "When ATF tries to do its job, it puts its own life at risk," Wintemute said. He added that the gun-rights lobby has helped keep ATF a low-priority agency."

INCORRECT assumptions There are some smaller cases where the ATF itself MAY have been threatened, however if the ATF would use the Constitution and stop doing things like Ruby Ridge (joint ATF/ FBI), Waco Texas (Joint again), and the numerous other instances of their use of force to kill children, women, unborn children, animals, and others they may not have the need to be constantly looking over their shoulders.

6. "There are 40 ATF agents in Arizona, the second-most-popular source for guns traced from crimes in Mexico, Newell said."

INTERESTING Could you please post the proof of this? (Taking "Newell's" word for it is not proof.)

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