Stronger Gun Laws, Not More Cops, Will Stop Mexican Violence
CHICAGO – Freedom States Alliance called on President Obama to move swiftly on common sense measures to limit the flow of guns and deadly semi-automatic assault weapons that are fueling Mexico’s escalating drug violence. Last night at his second press conference from the East Wing, President Obama was asked about the escalating violence along the border, and he stated:
“Even as [President Calderón] is doing more to deal with the drug cartels sending drugs into the United States, we need to do more to make sure that illegal guns and cash aren’t flowing back to these cartels. That’s part of what’s financing their operations, that’s part of what’s arming them, that’s what makes them so dangerous. And this is something that we take very seriously and we’re going to continue to work on diligently in the months to come.
Although President Obama committed $800 million and supplying additional law enforcement resources to the border, the inconvenient truth is that no amount of money or agents will ultimately quell the violence until the U.S. passes stronger gun laws to cut off the pipeline of weapons flowing into Mexico.
Those measures include a comprehensive ban on assault weapons, requiring background checks on all gun sales such as those at gun shows, and removing the “Tiahrt restrictions” on ATF to permit the release of gun crime trace data to local law enforcement agencies to clamp down on gun trafficking.
Those same federal policies would also have a dramatic impact on reducing gun violence right here in our communities and states.
“The truth is that there are members of Congress that say they care about Mexico’s drug-infused violence, but then turn right around and oppose sensible measures to keep deadly weapons out of the gun traffickers’ and drug dealers’ hands,” said Sally Slovenski, Executive Director of Freedom States Alliance. “How can we expect to solve this threat unless we cut off the supply of weapons heading south?
“It is imperative that President Obama take a leadership stand on these issues and fight for stronger gun laws. It is also time for Congress to put the national security interests of our country ahead of the profit motive of the gun industry and the radical agenda of the gun lobby. In helping to limit Mexico’s violence by enacting comprehensive federal legislation, we can also have a dramatic impact on gun violence right here in our states and communities.”
Last week, 65 House Democrats wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder telling him and the Administration not to press for an assault weapons ban despite the horrific violence in Mexico, the Alabama massacre with an AK-47 that killed 10 Americans, and the deadly shooting of police officers in Oakland, California last week.
It’s a telling sign that the gun lobby has a stranglehold on our government when it comes to guns and why leadership is desperately needed.
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Even before the first so called "assualt weapons" gun ban, gun crime was falling and only a very, very small percent of gun crimes were committed with that type of guns . Actually, true assualt weapons (fully automatic fire) have been banned since 1934, but the gun nuts are too stupid to know the difference between them. Gun crime has now reached a 30+ year low. Our Doctors on the other hand, are killing more than 120,000 people per year in hospitals by misdiagnois and bad treatment , ect. Lets "ban Doctors" if we truly want to save the greatest number of lives each year. Cars and trucks also kill tens of thousands of people each year. Lets ban them too! They are enough gun laws already to choke a horse and most are not enforced.
To paraphrase Ben Franklin, "Those who would surrender Freedom to gain security, deserve neither"
We have over 20,000 "Gun" laws on our books already!!
We have been asking the decrepit cesspool that is Mexico to help us keep the illegal aliens out and they laughed in our face ! The violence over there is THEIR problem now and if it spills over the border we will take care of it in short order ! There is NO way that Americans are going to give up THEIR rights for these people or any other for that matter. Virtually everyone I talk to (including liberals) will REFUSE to obey any more draconian gun laws . Enough is enough and it's time to take a stand according to the vast majority of people in this country ! You have NO idea how STRONGLY these people feel and how close the government is coming to massive resistance !
It is obvious that the Mexican gun cartels are getting their weapons for the US military. The administration has repeatedly claimed that assault weapons , rocket launchers, and grenades are coming from the US. Only the military and police are allowed these weapons. (Civilians are only allowed rifles without automatic fire. Also rocket launchers and grenades are only allowed if rendered non-working.) So those weapons must be coming from US police or US military. Don't bother wasting time with a new assault weapon ban, it won't do any good at all.
Yes! Violating 12 laws isn't enough to deter people from smuggling arms into mexico! We need 13 laws! That'd stop 'em!
Leadership IS needed, but by smart people, not by kneejerk reactionary's that just hate guns and will exploit any terrible event to push their agenda.