Publication Date: June 19, 2009
What does it say?
Gun violence in Mexico increased dramatically in the past 2 years, as drug-related murders more than doubled from roughly 2,700 in 2007, to 6,200 in 2008. The number of murders in 2009 is expected to be close to the 2008 level. Over 20,000, or 87 percent, of firearms seized by Mexican authorities from 2004 originated in the United States, compared to 6 guns each from Germany, Belize, and Guatemala.
This trend continues to worsen as over 90 percent of the firearms seized in Mexico and traced in the last 3 years came from the United States. Approximately 25 percent of the seized firearms in 2008 are especially dangerous weapons such as AK and AR-15 type semiautomatic rifles whose ammunition can pierce Mexican police armor.
Mexican officials reported, “they saw no reason why the drug cartels would go through the difficulty of acquiring a gun somewhere else in the world and transporting it to Mexico when it is so easy for them to do so from the United States.”
How can I use it?
This report thoroughly documents the problems of U.S. guns being trafficking to Mexico. Use the report to advocate for the reform of U. S. gun laws.
Citation
Ford, Jess, Director, International Affairs and Trade, Report to Congressional Requesters: Firearms Trafficking: U.S. Efforts to Combat Arms Trafficking to Mexico Face Planning and Coordination Challenges. Washington, DC: Government Accountability Office, June 18, 2009.
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