Mexico: Murder Waiting to Happen

I was really bummed when my mother told me that I couldn't go to Mexico to visit my grandparents last summer. I know what you're thinking, why do I need my mother's permission right? I'm 21 I can do what I want. Well, it was even worse when my grandparents told me they didn't want me to visit them. 

Mexico is a very dangerous place right now. A vast majority of policemen have quit their job and have went in to hiding with their families. Not long ago Mexico's President declared war on the Mexican drug cartels, only to fuel the fire. Mexico is now a place of assault, kidnappings, torture, brutal beatings and even beheadings. As of right now, there are a reported 60,000 Mexican military forces and police fighting this war against the cartel, but family members have told me that there is not a single policeman come twilight. No one goes out at night, and no one goes anywhere alone in the day. 

Ten military soldiers were found beheaded in December with a threat from the cartel saying, "for every one of ours you kill, we will kill ten of yours." Within the past weeks, the government has received even more threats, and the cartel are beginning to take over. Last week, the cartels threatened to kill 1 policeman every 48 hours until the chief in Juarez resigned. After two deaths, he did and moved to Texas with his family. 

Kidnappings have also picked up. The cartels are taking anyone for ransom, not just the rich, but children from marketplaces. What's next? Is the U.S. in danger, the bordering states, cities El Paso and San Diego? This is serious stuff, it's scary. We hear about this happening overseas, but now it's right next door. I fear for the lives of my grandparents and family members, I wonder when I'll ever see them again...