Border Patrol Agents

I haven't written anything about the Texas border patrol agents who were sent to prison for shooting a drug smuggler, largely because I haven't known what to think of the case.

At first glance, I couldn't believe they were convicted for doing what I thought was the purpose of the border patrol: stop illegals (particularly really bad guys) from coming into the country.

But then I read that they hadn't filed the proper paperwork to report the incident, leading many to believe they were covering up malfeasance. At that point, I was less sympathetic to them.

Now, Patterico has a post about the situation, complete with more information about the lack of a written report. (Via Darleen).

But U.S. Border Patrol firearms policy specifically states that agents are prohibited from filing a report if a shooting incident takes place and that only an oral report to supervisors is required.

"Ensure that supervisory personnel or INS investigating officers are aware that employees involved in a shooting incident shall not be required or allowed to submit a written statement of the circumstances surrounding the incident," according to the firearms policy.

"All written statements regarding the incident shall be prepared by the local INS investigating officers and shall be based upon an interview of the INS employee."

That certainly undercuts the government's version of events and now I'm not sure what to think. I'm thinking these agents were doing what they were supposed to do.

I'm not sure what will happen in the case now, but these guys need to be segregated in prison, for sure, or they will be killed by more of the sorts of guys they were trying to prevent from entering the U.S.

Sacrificing Your Sudafed Isn't Helping the Drug War

If you're like me, you've all but given up using Sudafed when you have allergies or a cold. That's because you have to sign a lot of ridiculous paperwork with a pharmacist just to get some Advil Cold & Sinus.

According to Bridget Johnson, all that rigamarole to get some Sudafed isn't curbing meth labs (who, I'm sure, were buying the 24 cap Sudafed for this purpose).

According to the National Drug Intelligence Center’s 2007 National Drug Threat Assessment, ‘Marked success in decreasing domestic methamphetamine production through law enforcement pressure and strong precursor chemical sales restrictions has enabled Mexican (drug trafficking organizations) to rapidly expand their control over methamphetamine distribution - even in eastern states - as users and distributors who previously produced the drug have sought new, consistent sources.’

Additionally, the flow of ‘ice’ - highly concentrated meth that is usually smoked - from Mexico has increased sharply, most likely creating more addicts because of the better high it creates, states the report.

So while lawmakers have focused on regulating sniffling customers at drugstore counters, Mexican cartels have monopolized the gaps left in the meth market, bringing their goods - and guns - across a porous border. ‘Now, approximately 80 percent of all meth purchased in the U.S. originates from Mexican labs,’ U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said in a May address at the National Methamphetamine and Chemicals Initiative Strategy Conference.

It's still a border issue but don't tell anyone or else you'll be labelled a racist.