(Des)Arma Mexico Movement Seeks to End Arms Traffic From United States Denise Dresser - Proceso
go to original June 18, 2014

As the group behind the “(Des)Arma México” [Disarm Mexico] initiative argues, the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict. Dante Alighieri’s famous saying illustrates what does happen and what is happening to us. Apathetic Mexico faced with violence. Passive Mexico faced with weapons that are produced for them. Paralyzed Mexico faced with a conflict that involves everyone, touches everyone, is everyone’s business. The inarguable fact that more weapons means more murder. And since the United States in 2004 ended the prohibition of the sale of assault weapons, the number of deaths is increasing. Exponentially. Brutally. Tragically.

By 2012 the increase in the percentage of firearm-related deaths since eight years before was already 178%. The number of murders tripled in the face of the authorities’ inability to react and the general population’s indifference. The number grew as a result of counterproductive public policy in the United States and a lack of governmental control in Mexico. This resulted in a lethal reality.

The University of San Diego calculated that since 2010 at least 235 thousand weapons have crossed the border from the United States, which has generated earnings of almost 127 million dollars for the weapons industry. And in each federal election, the National Rifle Association unloads around 20 million dollars to insure the continuation of the “riflebancada” [gun caucus]. These are the ones who pretend there’s no correlation between weapons and violence, those who favor special-interest groups over the public’s interest.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Translated by Jillian Droste

Mexico Voices is a blogging endeavor aimed at raising the awareness of U.S. citizens regarding the destructive impact of the U.S. economic policy and the War on Drugs on Mexico — on its people, their economic and physical security and their human rights, on the nation’s dysfunctional justice system, and on the rule of law and Mexico’s fragile democracy. Visit the website at MexicoVoices.blogspot.mx.

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!