Senators Call for Stronger Response to Firearms Trafficking in Mexico
On June 13, 2011, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D), Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, along with Senators Schumer (D) and Whitehouse (D) released the findings of a Congressional investigation that concludes American military-style weapons are arming Mexico’s drug trafficking organizations at an alarming rate and policymakers are not adequately responding. The Senators' report urges Congress and the Administration to strengthen firearms laws to stem drug-related violence.
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According to Senator Feinstein’s press release, the report, entitled “Halting U.S. Firearms Trafficking to Mexico,” indicates that the overwhelming majority of firearms recovered at crime scenes and traced by Mexican officials originate in the United States. In a recent letter to Senator Feinstein, ATF Acting Director Melson indicated that in 2009 and 2010 20,504 of the 29,284 firearms (70%) recovered in Mexico and submitted for tracing were United States-sourced.
Senator Feinstein’s press release available here
Report available here