New Govt Study on links b/t U.S. Guns & Mexico Violence

[ericire12]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124528641705825899.html

WASHINGTON -- A new study by the Government Accountability Office says most firearms recovered in drug violence in Mexico come from the U.S., a finding that will likely fuel the politically charged debate over the U.S. government's efforts to stem gun trafficking across the border.

Drug-related murders have more than doubled in number to 6,200 last year from 2,700 in 2007, according to the GAO study, a draft of which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The study is set to be released Thursday.

Mexican officials have pushed for the U.S. to enact tougher gun laws and to help restrict arms smuggling as Mexico attempts to battle drug cartels on its territory.

"The availability of firearms illegally flowing from the United States into Mexico has armed and emboldened a dangerous criminal element in Mexico, and it has made the job of drug cartels easier," said Rep. Eliot L. Engel, (D., N.Y.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, which is holding a hearing on arms trafficking Thursday. "It is simply unacceptable that the United States not only consumes the majority of the drugs flowing from Mexico, but also arms the very cartels that contribute to the daily violence that is devastating Mexico."

Gun-rights groups have challenged assertions by both the Bush and Obama administrations that the U.S. is the source of the vast majority of the weapons fueling the drug-related violence in parts of Mexico. The dispute centers on incomplete data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which conducts electronic tracing of weapons based on information submitted by Mexican officials.

The study acknowledges the data gap. In 2008, of the almost 30,000 weapons seized by Mexican law enforcement, only 7,200 were submitted to the bureau for tracing, the study said. The number of weapons submitted would be higher were it not for bureaucratic problems, U.S. and Mexican officials said, according to the study. Officials told investigators they expect to fix those problems to allow more complete data to be gathered.

GAO investigators cited multiple problems in trying to collect enough data to complete a comprehensive study of arms trafficking from the U.S. The investigators faulted the lack of a coherent anti-arms-trafficking strategy, as well as turf battles among agencies charged with enforcing laws and government policy on the issue.

The study also cited bureaucratic problems in Mexico that reduced the number of weapons submitted to the U.S. for tracing. In addition, congressional restrictions limit the amount of data the bureau can collect and publicly release about gun sales.

Despite the incomplete data, GAO investigators conclude that the U.S., and in particular the Southwest border states of Texas, California and Arizona, are the source of most weapons trafficked into Mexico.

The study says that despite claims from critics that Mexican cartels may also be getting weapons from Asia and elsewhere, law-enforcement officials believe that scenario is unlikely. Law-enforcement officials, cited in the study, said they saw no reason why drug cartels would go through the difficulty of importing guns long distances "when it is so easy for them to do so from the United States."

[Hazcat]

That 'study' seems long on 'we think' and 'we believe' and short on facts.

[deepwater]

That 'study' seems long on 'we think' and 'we believe' and short on facts.

maybe long, or 'deep' on BS!

[WatchManUSA]

GAO investigators cited multiple problems in trying to collect enough data to complete a comprehensive study of arms trafficking from the U.S. The investigators faulted the lack of a coherent anti-arms-trafficking strategy, as well as turf battles among agencies charged with enforcing laws and government policy on the issue.

The GAO admits they have FLAWED data.  It appears to me that the GAO is faulting the following:

* the lack of a coherent anti-arms-trafficking strategy
* turf battles among agencies charged with enforcing laws and government policy on gun trafficing

THE REPORT DID NOT SAY THAT US GUN OWNERS ARE THE PROBLEM!

Question:  Are these guns semi-autos or full-autos?

Here are some facts!

1. It is already illegal to to move firearms across the boarder without proper licensing, permits and taxes paid.

2. These guns are not being carried across the boarder by the "Average Schmo" gun owner.  My guess that these guns are being smuggled at the behest of the drug dealers in Mexico.

3. I doubt if these guns are being purchased legally in the US before being shipped to Mexico.

THIS IS AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE AND NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE 2nd AMEENEDMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JC5123]

Did any of these asshats maybe think that if we would just enforce our border, they would put a stop to 95-99% of the problems that we have with Mexico?

Oh wait, what am I thinking! This is the presidency of God! The infalable! How dare I, a lowly TAX PAYER question the benevolence of our dear leader....

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