Sebastian has a story about a Mexican farmer who decided to fight back against the drug cartel. In the end, the old man was killed, but he managed to stack up quite a few cartel bodies in the process. One man.
At some point, when enough farmers fight back, the cost to the cartels becomes too great. Even with the cartels’ deep pockets and overwhelming firepower superiority, an old man armed with a rifle can put a large enough dent into their ranks to make the endeavor not worthwhile. Well trained men can’t be replaced as easily and there are only so many people who are willing to simply walk into battle for a little bit of money knowing the chances of them being able to spend it are small.
Be it cartels, soldiers, or the common street thug, the same effect can be felt. When people resist, it causes the cost of forcing them to your will to increase. At some level, that cost becomes too great to bother with.
Now, the Brady Campaign would have rather the old farmer was simply murdered outright without being able to offer resistance. You see, what Mr. Garza used to defend himself would be called a ‘high power sniper rifle’, ‘an assault weapon’, ‘a high capacity machine gun’ or any number of flat out lies by people like Joan Peterson and Collin ‘I couldn’t defend myself therefore I want to make sure you’re in the same position because I’m not man enough to admit I’m a coward’ Goddard would have you believe.
Rest in peace Señor Garza.