Panel: Harsher Penalties for Straw Buyers Could Curb Gun Traffic to Mexico Chad Garland - Cronkite News
go to original November 1, 2013

The Rev. Javier Avila, president of a human rights in Chihuahua, Mexico, describes the cynicism toward government efforts to fight gun violence among those whose family members were victims of a violent 2008 masacre in the town of Creel. (Chad Garland/Cronkite News)

WASHINGTON – Stricter U.S. gun measures are needed to stem the flow of guns to Mexico, where the weapons are fueling violence and leaving people “under siege” with little hope of help from their government, activists said this week.

In addition to tougher laws, they called for tougher enforcement by federal officials, who they say have been reluctant to act since the fallout from Operation Fast and Furious, the failed “gun-walking” operation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

But an ATF spokesman said Thursday that while gun-trafficking to Mexico is a problem, the agency has not backed off its enforcement efforts.

“By no means are we turning our back or turning a blind eye,” said Phoenix ATF Special Agent Thomas Mangan. “Trying to stem that flood of guns and that iron river of guns … and trying to keep ahead of the techniques and tactics that these criminal organizations are using in obtaining guns is ever-evolving.”

Read the rest at Cronkite News

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!