U.S. tourist hacked to death in Guatemala

You obviously have not been listening to Obama's speeches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HUH!!!!

What does Obama have to do with the article? I'm a little confused.

Yup. I said this in a thread just yesterday. I have dubbed Guatamala "Scariest Place on Earth" for a good, good reason.

What a horrible outcome to what should have been an enjoyable family vacation...

Definitely a sad ending for what seemed to be a new great adventure for the couple. I'm not sure what the gun control laws are exactly but I know they're very strict in mexico and in central american countries. If you (joe schmoe citizen or tourist) are caught with a gun, you're in deep dook, as in jail time. Generally, only police and rebels are armed. If I was traveling in one of those countries for any length of time, I wouldn't carry a gun. A switchblade maybe, but not a gun. Or maybe hire a bodyguard.

OF course no one from the good old USA has ever killed anyone! That must not be why we have the highest percentage of our population compared to almost any other country locked up in prison. Couldnt be from all the crime thats commited here is it??Naaaw.

Excuse me? Guatemalans ought to be deported solely because a few Guatemalans murdered an American man and injured his wife in Guatemala? I'm a Guatemalan living in America and I would never dream of murdering anyone. It saddens me that this occurred to these people. I'm also sorry to hear that there are people in this world like you who believe that individuals belonging to a specific country or ethnicity behave, think, and act all alike. I suspect the corruption that has enveloped within certain Guatemalan citizens who make the choice of becoming criminals arises due to the socioeconomic discrepancies within the country and the individual's will to survive even if their actions are malicious. The only reason violence is more rampant in Guatemala versus the United States can be attributed to Guatemala's higher poverty rate.

can you say MS13?

are so arrogant to think that every citizen from Guatemala is to be held accountable and judge for the acts made by other Guatemala's in Guatemala. You are probably not the only racist and uneducated soul out there unfortunately for the rest of us, that thinks this way, but just to educate you, a bit... They're not here to murder you. They are here to support they're families. An average work week in Guatemala is 44hrs. at 169.40 U.S. dollars per week out of a population of 12,728,111 only 3.958 million of the country's population is PROVIDED employment (that's 31%) So if you aren't able to the math that means....by working in the us they, at minimum wadge, are able to earn 6.50-6.55an hr (47.96 an hr.) in Guatemala. witch intern means a better life for there families.

P.S. 56% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Hm. Is that so? Well then they should understand the American concern for illegal immigration... just sayin'...

Mexico IS amazingly hypocritical about immigration.
To run for office in Baja state, not only you have to show proof of citizenship, but both parents have to show proof also!

Guatemala is a very poor country. Pirating is well known to happen down in that region, not just Guatemala. That's why tourists are urged to use caution down there.

Are you serious? Nobama would invite them home for supper.

Lucy, invite criminals home for supper? Murderers home for supper? Guatemalans home for supper? You do realize that criminals exist in all regions of the world, right?

Lucy--- I that like Jesus inviting home whores for supper? Seems to me that that is part of the Christian liturgy. How do all the extreme left and right wing hypocrites reconcile this one? As a moderate, I'll just sit back and laugh at the answers.....

I know he would have never permitted this to happen if he were president

I'm just curious, are you one of those democrats who angrily tells Bush and Cheney to keep their noses out of the business in other countries? Last time I checked, Obama is not running for office in Guatamala.

supersapien, I too would love to know how obama "would have never permitted it to happen".
royalcat is either joking, or utterly deluded and actually does believe that obama is THE SAVIOUR.

BGG: how fortunate that you came through that experience in tact! You didn't say when it happened ... recently, 10. 15 years ago? Doesn't sound like the police are doing much to protect the boaters. I would be tempted to write a letter to the government (or whomever would be appropriate) and complain about the lack of protection from local authorities. Word get out among boating tourists and unless the government enforces protection for tourist in that area, they will eventually quit coming. That's fine by me if the government won't be proactive in this issue.

Again, I'm glad you're here to tell us this story.

or at least visit countries that aren't flagged as being so dangerous. There are lots of other nations where this kind of thing isn't commonplace. Tourists really need to know everything about their destination.

You are so isolated from the rest of the world aren't you?

Itis amazing how small you mind is. It's embarrassing to think you might be a U.S. citizen. Every other country "globally" is bi-lingle!

Huh Amber? Why am I a fool for stating my opinion?

Yeah, this thing could have happened anywhere, sure.. but quit thinking the world is such a green, pretty little thing that you hold in your hands. The world is "F'd UP!"..and the USA is the best country in the world!!!!!! Let me go back to your little "Guatemala which is a generally nice friendly country" .. Have you been there? I'm sure you will say that you were.

Yes Amber I have been there many times and feel much safer there than in the USA but I somehow suspect you have not been there or much of anywhere. You must be having a bad day.

"and feel much safer there than in the USA" LIER. Actually, I grew up in Panama City, PANAMA! , and I feel safer in the USA than anywhere else, quit bashing the USA.

Oh Amber-- why so angry?

She's angry, Fausta but she makes a good point. We as westerners are very lucky people. We live easy lives that we don't wake up afraid of losing every morning. We have a good quality of life which promotes contentment, which in turn, makes it easier to live a law abiding life. Our laws are fair to us and we are protected by them in ways lots of people in the world aren't.

Guatamala can be a very dangerous country. Sure there are lots of nice people living there. That's a given anywhere but from our point of view, some of the things that happen in some of these nations, that may seem par for the course for someone who's used to them, seem horrendous to us because we get off a lot easier.

SuperSapien- I see. Well eventually every child must realize the tooth fairy does not exist, even if it pains them.

Love it!

Barb I would take the USA off the places to visit if I were you as this type of crime happens here everyday but is never reported by the conservative dominated US media.

why? According to Merle the place is full of shiny happy people that are "generally nice friendly country" lol

What is wrong with you Amber? Merle never said he hated America. All he said was that he has visited Guatemala and had a positive experience. Nobody hates the United States of America, but from reading many of these posts Americans tend to fear/hate other countries which they have never visited.

the conservative dominated US media.

Well THAT'S not a fair statement by any stretch. Conservative media? Seriously? How many countries have the laxity on censorship that the USA has? How many countries have banned programmes that feature sex, drugs, rock and roll, that the FCC deems suitable for adult viewing? I could keep going but I'll surely piss someone off.

I'll agree with you on that.

No you may not get targeted because you are an American but you will if you happen to be Black, or White or Poor or Rich or a Woman or Man or in the wrong place, or in a bad nieghorhood or involved in a home invasion or your car jacked but don't worry you wont be targeted because your an American, wheew that's a relief. I feel safer already. The sad fact is that in a city like Los Angeles, NY etc you are more likely to be a victim of a crime then almost anywhere else in this world, except of course Iraq or any other country in the middle of a war zone ,now that's not Bashing America 'Amber" you Republican brainwashed amitron, thats just the facts. Until we as a Nation admit that then nothing will ever get done about it. You can stick your head in the sand all you want and shout "america is number 1 ,love it or leave it" as loud as you want but it still wont change that simple fact. If you dont believe me google Crime Rates for different countries and compare yourself. By the way the US media is biased towards the conservative slant. You can find books articles on that as well. one is not allowed to post links here.

And I suppose that your answer to this horrible american crime wave is to coddle the gang banger thugs even more than we already do?
maybe help them recruit more members so they feel more important?

A Mossberg shotgun is the mariners best friend.