America's role in Jamaica's murders - Today's Editorial

[malaise]

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/commentary/20150718/editorial-americas-role-jamaicas-murders
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Policewoman Crystal Thomas died Tuesday while trying to live her organisation's motto, 'To Serve, Protect and Reassure', on a fateful bus ride in Kingston while she and others were heading home.

The data show that much of the firepower for Jamaica's violence comes from the United States. More than 80 per cent of the illegal guns that have been wreaking havoc in this country are manufactured in America, where lax gun laws facilitate purchase at flea markets, pawn shops, gun shows and, increasingly, via the Internet.

Among those condemning the young constable's murder is US ambassador to Jamaica, Luis Moreno, as he pledged in a statement to "stand with the Government of Jamaica against lawless criminals".

Guns are for killing people, and there are an estimated 270 million guns on American streets. In many states, one may buy a gun legally without ever showing any kind of identification. And in many cases, these guns find their way to the region, whether in food barrels, motor vehicles or in other goods.

Ambassador Moreno must appreciate that the exchange of information among countries is essential to help combat the illegal arms. He should know, too, that the US is one of only three countries that has not ratified the Inter-American Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), which seeks to criminalise illegal transfers of arms and encourages the exchange of information among participating signatories. Perhaps he could make a giant contribution to this effort by urging the Obama administration to ratify the convention as a first step towards cooperation in this challenging issue.

[leveymg]

1. I thought this was going to be a historical piece about the US destabilization of the Manley gov't.

It's sickening that gun crimes have become so "normal" that the US doesn't even need the CIA anymore to terrorize the world. We just let our guns do their own thing.

[malaise]

2. That's when the real guns started showing up

That was also our Iran Contra moment with Lester Lloyd Coke aka Jim Brown and more recently his son, Christopher Coke aka Dudus.

[hack89]

3. Time to adequately fund the ATF. Nt