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Mexican Cartels Have Little Trouble Getting US Guns

Lax laws, difficult tracing system make smuggling easy

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 15, 2009 7:28 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Thanks to lax gun laws that vary from state to state, smugglers providing arms to Mexican drug cartels can move vast quantities of weapons over the border for years without sparking suspicion. The subject may come up when President Obama visits Mexico tomorrow, but the political will to change US laws appears lacking. "The gun issue is the single one thing we can address, and we are not seeing it," a Texas police chief tells the New York Times.

Transporting the weapons isn’t hard, either: “If you stop me between the dealer and the border, I am still legal, because I can possess those guns,” says a US official. There’s no digital gun registry, meaning federal agents must follow an often-sloppy paper trail to trace weapons. Said one gun dealer: "When somebody walks in and says, ‘I need eight of these,’ it becomes apparent what’s happening."

Villagers walk near candles placed where five soldiers were gunned down by alleged cartel gunmen a week earlier in Caracuaro, Mexico, Sunday, May 6, 2007.
Villagers walk near candles placed where five soldiers were gunned down by alleged cartel gunmen a week earlier in Caracuaro, Mexico, Sunday, May 6, 2007.   (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)
In this Nov. 7, 2008, file photo a soldier stands guard during a presentation in Mexico City of arms captured.
In this Nov. 7, 2008, file photo a soldier stands guard during a presentation in Mexico City of arms captured.   (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
A masked police officer stands by weapons seized from alleged Sinaloa drug cartel members as they are displayed for the press in Mexico City, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008.
A masked police officer stands by weapons seized from alleged Sinaloa drug cartel members as they are displayed for the press in Mexico City, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
woodyTX
Apr 15, 2009 11:46 AM CDT
No TC, they are fully aware that the NRA will spend millions making sure they don't get re-elected. It's fear and self preservation that keeps these politicians from acting. Until we get a gun control lobby stronger than the NRA it's going to be very slow going. How much do you contribute to the NRA each year AC and Northeast ? I would venture a guess that 10% of the revenue from every gun sold goes to the NRA just as a starter.
woodyTX
Apr 15, 2009 11:40 AM CDT
Do drugs take away your ability to reason ? Some do some don't. People in an unreasonable state of mind however (and there are plenty of them around..on drugs or not) and a gun in their hand are extremely dangerous....and guns are the weapon of choice for all nut cases.
AClotfelter
Apr 15, 2009 7:29 AM CDT
Once again, automatic weapons are not the issue here... those are not being sold

 
Texas • Mexico • gun control • gun sales • drug cartel • Second Amendment • National Rifle Association • firearms • border • gun laws • smuggling

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