Gun Trafficking and Straw Purchasing Traffic Jam: Straw Runners' Complicity

Rational choice theory is the theory of criminal behavior that posits that when people commit illicit acts, they generally tend to do so while considering their own self-interest. This theorem posits that criminals are well aware of the illegality of that which they are contemplating, and that they take into account a number of factors before first pursuing these actions. Such factors generally include what sort of benefits they will incur (as well as to what degree they will profit) from criminal behavior, which is typically weighed against the likelihood of their getting caught. Furthermore, this theory contends that people who commit crime also are cognizant of the nature and the degree of the punishment they may induce if they are apprehended for committing a crime. In view of all of these factors, when people decide to still commit a crime anyway because they believe there is more of a chance for them to gain from rather than suffer from an act, it is typically an example of rational choice theory.

There is a copious body of evidence that indicates that many of the people involved in the illegal straw running and trafficking of firearms into Mexico and other regions do so while justifying their behavior by rational choice theory. What is most interesting about this theory and the level of involvement of complicit behavior is that it may be found at several levels of criminality, and not just merely that which involves the individuals who are caught and convicted of buying and supplying firearms to Mexico. There are numerous instances of media examples in which fire arms dealers, law enforcement personnel, and even lobbyist and legislation itself may be culpable for the proliferation of guns into Mexico that stem from the United States.

At the primary level of this theory's application to this particular criminal activity -- that of the transportation of guns to...

In Ororwitz and Grimaldi's article in the Washington Post, a young man by the name of Ramos was able to organize a network in which he and nine of his friends were able to purchase 112 firearms, the value of which exceeded $100,000, which they were then able to transport into Mexico. It can easily be seen how rational choice theory could apply to this particular case. The amount of money involved can be considered substantial -- particularly if Ramos was able to finance the procuring of over $100,000 of hardware, it can largely be inferred that he was not doing so for free. Furthermore, it should be noted that Ramos is relatively young at just 22 years of age at the time of the article's publication. Whatever funds he was earning from his criminal activity more than likely would surpass employment at a lot of legal occupations, which may still include menial positions in the restaurant business or some other similar position. After being caught the young man was sentenced to only four and a half years in prison -- with good behavior it is quite probable that he could be released in as little as three-year's time. When comparing that rather insignificant amount of jail time with whatever funds he was able to earn, and possibly continue to earn by engaging in the same trade once he gets out of prison, it becomes fairly understandable how Ramos could rationalize his involvement in this particular crime.
Furthermore, the pecuniary incentives for the dealers of gun stores to either sell to straw runners or even make legal sales that eventually end up used in Mexican acts of violence is decidedly rational as well. One of the most notorious gun dealers with a reputation for selling to straw runners and to those who transport illegal weapons across the border is known as Carter's Country.…