Drug cartels are fighting a war against Mexican law enforcement over the power of Mexico. It has turned into a bloody battle. I am against these cartels, and we as Americans must act. Mexican cartels don’t just hurt Mexico--they hurt the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa. We need to help Mexico stop the cartels. When the cartels bring drugs to our country, more and more people become addicted. Cartels are the suppliers of drugs to gangs in and out of prison. If our government doesn’t want crime in the streets, then it must stop the cartels. Horrifying things have happened to people who have stood in the way of the cartels. Many have been murdered and tortured.

I am against the murdering of innocent people. The cartels kill people to prove that they have all the power and they are unstoppable.  Imagine being a resident of a Mexican city and being kidnapped and then tortured. That is what these people are facing when living in the presence of these drug cartels. No one should have to go through this. It is not right at all. The worst thing of all is that the police--who are supposed to protect the people living in Mexico--even fear these cartels.

This drug war just doesn’t affect Mexico, it affects other countries. Drugs are killing everyone and the distribution must stop. News reports say that drug trafficking has become bigger than ever. Mexico is the main supplier to the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration (D.E.A) takes care of the drug trafficking here in the United States. However, there is no D.E.A. in Mexico. If there was, then I don’t think there would be as much violence with these cartels.           

Some think that what’s going on in Mexico is Mexico’s problem, not the United States'. But they are wrong. If we don’t want our families to get involved with drugs, then we must help our neighbors fight this problem.                                    

The drug cartels are hurting innocent people for no reason. Drugs and violence are no laughing matter.

Marlon is a student at Watsonville High School in Wastonville, Calif. Special thanks to English teacher Marvilyn Quiroz for requiring her students to submit editorials to NewsHour Extra as a final project.