We propose that the President of the United States immediately prohibit the importation of assault weapons to the United States. Assault weapons are often smuggled into Mexico, and have also been used too many times against innocent civilians in the US. We propose giving authorities effective regulatory tools and adequate resources to halt arms smuggling in the border regions, especially in Border States like Arizona and Texas.
Resume
According to the ATF, 70 percent of guns recovered by Mexican authorities and submitted for tracing in the past three years are of U.S. origin. The United States must do its part to stop the massive flow of weapons across its borders. If powerful assault weapons are readily available close to the border, they will continue to make their way into the hands of criminal groups. We aren’t asking the United States to roll back the Second Amendment,– but we are asking the United States to make a few reasonable changes to save countless lives in Mexico by ensuring that these weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands. President Obama must take responsibility for doing his part in addressing the violence in Mexico.
We propose that the President of the United States immediately prohibit the importation of assault weapons to the United States. Assault weapons are often smuggled into Mexico, and have also been used too many times against innocent civilians in the US. We propose giving authorities effective regulatory tools and adequate resources to halt arms smuggling in the border regions, especially in border states like Arizona and Texas.
These changes would not only benefit Mexico; they would also promote safer communities in the United States. As so many families grieve the loss of their loved ones, there is immense work to be done. There is no single solution to the violence Mexico is facing, and we must all continue to join together in our call for peace and justice. That call for long‐term change may not be answered overnight, but stopping the weapons that fuel the violence is an important step to take.
Binational diagnosis (large)
There’s no doubt that Mexico must do more to intercept firearms and bring criminal actors to justice. Yet, violence is not just a domestic issue for Mexico. The United States must do its part to stop the massive flow of weapons across its borders. If powerful assault weapons are readily available close to the border, they will continue to make their way into the hands of criminal groups.
The primary responsibility to stop smuggling falls to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), a law enforcement agency under the Department of Justice whose duties include preventing the illegal use and trafficking of firearms.
According to the ATF, 70 percent of guns recovered by Mexican authorities and submitted for tracing in the past three years are of U.S. origin.
Using “straw buyers” (individuals who can legally buy firearms in the United States, but then turn around and resell them to criminals); drug trafficking organizations have kept a steady flow of arms moving across the U.S.‐Mexico border.
In 1994 the United States passed the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, barring the manufacture and importation of assault weapons for civilian use. However, that ban was allowed to expire under the Bush Administration in 2004, and since then, U.S. civilians have been able to buy military‐style weapons from licensed sellers. This includes semi‐automatic rifles like AK‐47s, the preferred weapon of many criminal groups in Mexico.
A recent NYU study (“Cross-Border Spillover: U.S. Gun Laws and Violence in Mexico”) showed that there is strong evidence that the expiration of the Federal Assault Weapons ban in 2004 caused an increase in homicides in Mexico.
Bi-National Petition to Stop Gun Smuggling
The Mexican NGO Alianza Cívica, along with Global Exchange, the Washington Office on Latin America, and other U.S. gun control and human rights organizations launched a petition in 2011 that focuses on actions the President can take to combat arms trafficking to Mexico. The three points are:
- Enforce the existing ban on the importation of military-style assault weapons (because many of them are later illegally smuggled into Mexico);
- Require gun dealers to report to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) the sale of multiple assault rifles to the same person over a period of five days;
- Strengthen legal enforcement in regions of the U.S. that supply the bulk of the contraband weapons smuggled into Mexico.
Around 50,000 people in Mexico and the United States have signed the petition is 100,000 signatures. Our goals are: 1) meet with President Obama to ask for the implementation of the 3 asks and 2) have the White House implement the 3 asks.
On July 12, 2011, President Obama announced new regulations for arms dealers in states along the Mexican border – fulfilling the second point on the petition. From now on, arms dealers will have to report to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) when they sell multiple assault rifles to a single person within a period of five days.
This new regulation applies the same rules that have long governed bulk sales of handguns to assault rifles so that when military‐grade weapons are being purchased in large quantities, it doesn’t go unnoticed by the authorities.
The N.R.A (National Rifle Association), a powerful lobbying group opposed to any gun control, is suing the U.S. Department of Justice over Obama’s new regulations, even though the new measures don’t stop qualified buyers from purchasing guns; the regulations simply allow for better reporting and tracking.
All three of these changes will make it easier for authorities in the United States to make sure that only legitimate buyers are getting guns – and help stop them from reaching Mexico and causing more destruction. Gun violence is a problem on the U.S. side of the border too. In the United States firearms violence is to blame for 20 deaths a day, causing American groups to repeatedly ask the government for stricter controls. These changes are in the best interests of both countries.
State and Federal Legislation to Stop Gun Smuggling
In California, with support from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Fellowship of Reconciliation, and Global Exchange, the State Senate passed a resolution in February 2012 that recommended the federal government take concrete steps to stop the flow of weapons into Mexico, including a new federal ban on assault weapons. The resolution is a strong message from the state government.
Some Members of Congress have introduced legislation against arms trafficking. Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD) are trying to make the act of trafficking firearms a federal offense punishable with up to 20 years. The “Stop Gun Trafficking and Strengthen Law Enforcement Act of 2011″ also targets those leading weapon trafficking rings. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) has introduced legislation to crack down on straw purchases. These bills would be important steps to close the loopholes that allow the gun trafficking business to flourish.
Violence destroys lives and families, and it threatens Mexican democracy.
We aren’t asking the United States to roll back the Second Amendment,– but we are asking the United States to make a few reasonable changes to save countless lives in Mexico by ensuring that these weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands. President Obama must take responsibility for doing his part in addressing the violence in Mexico. But this petition not only benefits Mexico; it also promotes safer communities in the United States.
As so many families grieve the loss of their loved ones, there is immense work to be done. There is no single solution to the violence Mexico is facing, and we must all continue to join together in our call for peace and justice. That call for long‐term change may not be answered overnight, but stopping the weapons that fuel the violence is an important step to take.
SOURCES: ATF Trace Data, http://www.atf.gov/statistics/download/trace-data/international/2007-2011-Mexico-trace-data.pdf
“US Firearms Trafficking to Mexico: New Data and Insights Illuminate Key Trends and Challenges” http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/Chapter%206-%20U.S.%20Firearms%20Trafficking%20to%20Mexico,%20New%20Data%20and%20Insights%20Illuminate%20Key%20Trends%20and%20Challenges.pdf
“Cross-Border Spillover: U.S. Gun Laws and Violence in Mexico.” New York University. March 13, 2012.https://files.nyu.edu/od9/public/papers/Cross_border_spillover.pdf
Other resources:
· Video from Cuéntame and WOLA on arms trafficking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H33u1e80WY
