Mexico Violence - Baja next?

[kitenaked]

I know everyone is getting their "nose bent out of joint" about my post regarding Mexico though I think I made it clear that bad stuff also happens in our own backyards.

Don't take things personal, I love Baja too.

[EvanOR]

Evan, there is alot of crap happening in our own backyards as well (Canada too), this is without question, though I do feel safe here.

The whole thread was to point out the brutality that is happening and raise awareness.

Baja does seem innocent and it has a fresh and soul cleansing feel (and dusty).

It is not innocent.

Maybe to a group of us hanging on the beach playing like kids in the water and wind it makes it seem otherwise.

Approximately 16,000 annual murders in the USA. Approximately 500 annual murders in Canada. Even accounting for the population difference, the disparity is huge. People sometimes ask me if there are any differences in living here vs in Canada. Usually I joke that were basically the same, but instead of guns we (Canadians) have healthcare......... :).

People use drugs in both countries, and while the " users " drive demand for the product, I would not place blame on them - that lies with how the respective governments have failed in their approaches to dealing with it.

I agree though that in Mx you can run into problems, but unless you're doing something you probably shouldn't be, you'll likely never see it - same as here.

[maxsteamer]

Evan bro..

I think your missing the point?? The "Gov. in Mx is the gang!!!! if you look like you got money.

[kitenaked]

Americans seem content with the murders and violence in our country....

That is funny Evan.....almost as funny as your "no more BBQ" threats at Sherman. Hot dogs right?

[EvanOR]

Max, clearly I did not miss the OP's point - everyone knows there is corruption at the government level in Mexico. Try clearing in and out of Mexican port and see how many times you get shaken down in the process.

Chris, not sure what's up with the mean-spirited post nor what your motives are for misquoting and rehashing a long dead topic. Sorry if I offended you, but if it makes you feel any better I feel the same way about Canada - when I was kid there were only about 100 murders a year. Times have change up North too and nobody seems too concerned (or takes any action) there either.

Coast is going to blow, I'm out. :)

[kitenaked]

Mean spirited posts or motives?

That is another funny one! You are on a roll!

[Greg]

I think I'll just go kite..

[kitenaked]

After Finn wakes me too!

[stewart]

I went down through Tijuana and went to San Quintin last weekend. We were on a charter bus so we were treated a little differently. But this is what we saw/went through.

On the US side, CBP was checking vehicles before they went into MX. Looking for guns and $$. At the MX border they were randomly checking vehicles as well. Lots of Federal Police with machine guns. Getting into MX for vehicles went pretty quickly, we went over at about 8:00 am.

On our way down we went through 4 checkpoints. All vehicles were searched. We were asked to pullover and the Federaly came on board and did a quick look at one stop and at another they just looked in glanced at the faces so to speak and we were on our way. At each of the checkpoints there were several Federalies carrying automatic weapons.

On the way back same checkpoints.

Getting across to US border Sun night, 2-3 hours for cars. Took us one hour and we had to get off the bus at the border and walk through customs. Re-boarded the bus on a couple of blocks later.

This is Tijuana so you get a lot more drama than say going down through Yuma. There is another border crossing 20 miles east of Tijuana and the guys in our support van went across over there. Customs told them lucky they weren't crossing at TJ, 3 hour wait vs 45 minutes there.

Once down in Baja nothing out of the ordinary, still lots of American's.

Where would you be heading in Baja?