90 Percent of Mexican Crime Guns Come From U.S., Says GAO

A new study released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveals that "Over 90 percent of the firearms seized in Mexico and traced over the last 3 years have come from the United States" and that "the firearms seized in Mexico have been increasingly more powerful and lethal in recent years."

So much for NRA chief Wayne LaPierre's oft-repeated claim that Mexican gun traffickers don't bother to "trifle with paperwork at U.S. gun stores."

But how about the NRA's argument that the trace data shouldn't be relied upon since not every seized gun is traced through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) eTrace system (ignoring the inconvenient fact that not all crime guns here in the good old U.S. of A are traced either). The report finds:

"While the eTrace data only represents data from gun trace requests submitted from seizures in Mexico and not all the guns seized, it is currently the only systematic data available, and the conclusions from its use that the majority of firearms seized and traced originated in the United States were consistent with conclusions reached by U.S. and Mexican government and law enforcement officals involved personally in combating arms trafficking to Mexico."

After explaining the bureaucratic and technical obstacles faced by the Mexican government in ramping up its tracing efforts (noting that some of the same type of "bureaucratic and resource challenges faced in Mexico" are also faced in the U.S.) the study reiterates that:

Consistent with the results of eTrace data, U.S. law enforcement officials who had worked on arms trafficking in Mexico and along the U.S.-Mexican border told us their experience and observations corroborated that most of the firearms in Mexico had originated in the United States. Furthermore, U.S. and Mexican government and law enforcement officials also stated this scenario seemed most likely, given the ease of acquiring firearms in the United States; specifically, they told us they saw no reason why the drug cartels would go through the difficulty of acquiring a gun somewhere else in the world and tranporting it to Mexico when it is so easy for them to do so from the United States.

Well, who are you going to believe? The law enforcement personnel who actually face down drug and gun traffickers on the U.S.-Mexico border, or Mr. LaPierre, who spends his time traveling I-66 between the NRA's headquarters and the studios of Fox News.

And what about LaPierre's assertions that Mexico's drug cartels actually spurn the military style weaponry freely available in the U.S. civilian market and instead purchase full-auto machine guns on "the transnational black market. " The GAO study finds that:

there have been some examples of military grade firearms recovered in Mexico. Some of these recovered firearms, ATF officials noted, were guns commercially available in the United States that were altered to make them more lethal. For instance, AK-type and AR-15 type semiautomatic rifles have been altered to make them fully automatic, like machine guns used by the U.S. and Mexican militaries. Seventy machine guns were submitted for tracing to ATF beween fiscal year 2004 and fiscal year 2008, which represents a small percentage, 0.30 percent, of the total number of 23,159.

That's 0.30 percent.

Will these new facts have any effect on the NRA? Of course not. Why would they? Facts don't matter to the gun lobby. In fact, it's information that they fear the most (e.g. Tiahrt Amendment). The goal of the NRA and its gun industry partners is to sell as many guns as possible--regardless of where they end up or how they're used. More dollars for the industry. More potential supporters for the NRA. And if it means you're going to end up with a de facto border war on America's southern flank, well, that's the "price of freedom."

Will these new facts have any effect on the Obama Admininistration, which with the stroke of a pen could use its executive powers to strictly enforce existing restrictions on the import of "non-sporting" weapons such as AK-47 and PS90 assault rifles (a ban--separate from the now-expired 1994 federal assault weapons ban--first imposed by the George H.W. Bush Administration, tightened up by the Clinton Administration in the wake of gun industry efforts to evade it, and abandoned by the George W. Bush Administration).

That remains to be seen.

 

Comments

[Thirdpower]

"The facts are it's 90 percent of the guns that were traced, that we were able -- that the Mexican government and ATF were able to send back here to be traced by ATF. It does not represent the 75 percent of the guns that we don't know where they came from because they were never submitted for trace. That's clearly stated in our report. So if someone's misreporting that, you know, that's not my problem. But our report is based on the facts."
--Jess Ford GAO

And who would be 'misreporting' that?

[twogunmojo]

for janSP1971...wtf....did you just wake up from a coma....nationwide carry is all but a reality....take tn. for instance....once you get your ccw permit you can carry your gun in at least 20 other states..its called reciprocity....

[milo9]

Something doesn't sound right. You mean to tell me that the same criminals who smuggle people and drugs all over the world are dependent on US arms manufacturers? I think it's just a matter of convenience as to arms being purchased in the US.

Far more believable is this excerpt from LA Times report: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-guatemala-drugs4-2009jun04,3,1022265,full.story

"The gangs are also ferrying military-style weapons north into Mexico to fight Calderon's forces and opposing gangsters while also vying to take over street sales in Guatemala. Some of the weapons are left over from the wars that the United States helped fight in Central America -- including here in Guatemala, which is still recovering from its 36-year civil war."

[djkrlsn]

From what news reports I have seen--a huge chunk of the weapons are milspec of Chinese and Russian manufacture--which sure as hell did not come from the U S

[DaveNYC]

n the midst of debating the extent to which US guns wind up in Mexico, people are missing the big picture. Mr. Sugarmann says that the Bush Administration "abandoned" import restrictions, and that we should reinstate the "abandoned" regulations and possibly pass more. This is totally false -- exactly the opposite happened. This article was apparently never cite-checked.

Mor particularly:
On July 13, 2005 (during the Bush Administration) ATF imposed a brand new ban on the importation of barrels and receivers. This was a cumulative regulation -- in addition to the 1989, 1991, and 1998 "sporting purposes" revisions that had taken place under Bush I and Clinton. See http://www.atf.gov/firearms/071305openletter.htm; see also http://www.atf.gov/firearms/062508openletter-licensedimporters.pdf.
In addition, during the Bush Administration, ATF made the "sporting purposes" test significantly more restrictive by imposing a flat ban on any semi-automatic rifles that accept staggered magazines of any sort. The most recent revision (1998) had only restricted the importation of rifles that accept one of six specified magazines. See generally http://www.atf.gov/firearms/assault/report.htm.

This is a classic "bait and switch" -- after making the false statement that import restrictions have been "abandoned," Mr. Sugarmann goes on to suggest more restrictions on design features with a "military" apperance. The reality is that Mr. Sugarmann is simply looking for any available excuse to justify new restrictions on civilian firearms ownership, regardless of whether that excuse has any basis in fact.

[djkrlsn]

Sugarmann and the other BC/VPC hacks have always been utilizing every excuse they can think of to support unconstitutional gun bans

[molonlabe]

Josh,

The current talking point is "domestic terrorism" and the NRA's "encouragment" of right-wing violence.
The Mexico canard has been debunked already.

Hasn't the Joyce Foundation given you the updates yet?

[BadBob420]

This post can't see the forrest for the trees. It doesn't matter if the weapons come from the U.S. or wherever. What matters is that the weapons can be afforded thru the massive amounts of money made from drugs. The true answer is to make drugs leagal. This would blow a huge hole in the ability of drug cartels to purchase weapons. Why is it here in America that we always have to spend MORE mony on something to solve the problem. By making durgs leagal, we will actually spend much less and solve a basket full of problems all at the same time.

[constitutional 1]

Firearms made in America are produced with a traceable serial number on them, which originates back to the specific producer of the firearm.

In 2007-2008, the Mexican government recovered 29,000 firearms at crimescenes in Mexico. Agent Newell reports that Mexico submitted 11,000 guns to the ATF for tracing. Out of that 11,000, only 6,000 were successfully traced - and out of that, 5,114, or 90%, actually came from the US.

The bottom line: only 17% of firearms used in Mexican violent crimes originate from the US.

[Vcubed]

You are insulting me with these bogus figures, constitutional1, because your conclusion after going from 29000 guns to 5114 guns is completely false. Smart middle schoolers could see the fallacies. Show some respect, please.

[OdinsEye]

His figures are not bogus and the math is quite correct. The fallacy is in the statement that 90% of all firearms recovered or used in crimes in mexico came from the US.

[constitutional 1]

BS!
Firearms made in America are produced with a traceable serial number on them, which originates back to the specific producer of the firearm.

In 2007-2008, the Mexican government recovered 29,000 firearms at crimescenes in Mexico. Agent Newell reports that Mexico submitted 11,000 guns to the ATF for tracing. Out of that 11,000, only 6,000 were successfully traced - and out of that, 5,114, or 90%, actually came from the US.

The bottom line: only 17% of firearms used in Mexican violent crimes originate from the US.

[BlackJAC]

I remember reading somewhere that captured al-Qaeda documents stated that American gun shows were the best place for terrorists to acquire weaponry. Suffice to say that Wayne LaPierre and the other comic book-addicted nerdlingers who run the NRA these days should turn off HALO 3 and spend some time in the Real World for once.

[OdinsEye]

They listed several ways to obtain firearms. In reality, very only a couple terrorists and very few criminals get firearms from gun shows.

[Ohio9]

Try doing some actual research:

The manuel you are talking about was found in an empty house in Kabul. There is no way to know who wrote it or if it actually had any connection to Al Qaeda. Furthermore, there is no evidence of al-Qaeda ever buying weapons at a gun show in the U. S.

[research]

90% of the Crime in Mexico is from the failed Drug War

[Rogan]

Ninety percent of the crime here, too.

Well, unless you figure the actual goal, was to make sure most young ambitious energetic black men are locked up in stir and have their lives completely ruined, so they can't be out here running around loose affecting society, by getting decent jobs, and voting. If you look at it that way, the War on Drugs has been a raging success.

[CanisLatrans]

Actually, the irony is, it's because of the "successful" drug war we had down in Colombia. There, the cartels were successfully taken down. So now, their former middlemen --the Mexicans-- took up the business for themselves, and found it was much, much easier and cheaper to do it from just over the border.

Law of unintended consequences. Solve a far away problem; have it replaced by a closer one.

[research]

I agree with the concept, but I think your facts are wrong:

"Despite these programs Colombia remains the leading producer of coca with approximately 70% of the total share and dominates approximately 90% of the cocaine processing market in the world.[1]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcotrafficking_in_Colombia

[Lyr]

Maybe Mexico should police thier border to keep thier gun laws from bieng violated.

[djkrlsn]

Better yet--treat and pay their soldiers and police better so soldiers and police don't steal their issued firearms and desert to join the drug cartels

[Toonadude]

That is a liberal solution --- one requiring increased taxes and "growing" the government.

Government is the problem ..... not the solution.
--R. Reagan

[masher]

They do on their southern border. Mexico is really crual to illegals on their southern border.

[zakwouldhave]

The gun issue is like abortion. There are no real changes to gun policy on the horizon.
And while I believe we should get tough on Mexico and police the border.........we are busy in Iraq when those resources could have been used much more wisely here at home.

[Mexitli]

If "Amercians" want to have guns then fine.

But keep them out of Mexico.

[VeggieVeal]

Baloney. If you don't want our guns, well, just stop buying them.

[Mexitli]

Your argument doesn't fly in this case because most of these weapons are legal in Mexico.

They can be purchased through legal means by law abiding Mexicans.

The problem is that you Americans supply criminals with guns.

This is not a supply/demand issue.

[FarOutFish]

You left out the part near the top of the report that says only 1/4 to 1/3 of the guns seized in Mexico were submitted for trace. That leaves out two thirds to three quarters of the guns seized were not included in this report. I guess you missed that and it’s important because it makes the report useless for analysis. It just hypes the ATF’s position, seeking more funding.

The reality is the really important gun for the cartels is the fully automatic AK-47, a weapon not readily available in this country. There are millions floating all around the world. It’s the most widely produced assault rifle in the world. Those guns are not coming from the U.S., but from all over Latin America and other parts of the world.

[djkrlsn]

And of those--only about half were successfully traced

[masher]

Who really cares where the guns are from? If not from the US then from China. Right?

The problem is that Mexico is getting closer and closer to being a failed state. They don't invest in education. Most Mexicans are anti-intellectual, they have too many children, they do not invest in their infrustructure and, they are not serious about ending corruption in their government.

Until Mexicans demand more they will get less. Its really that simple. NAFTA is also a disaster. for them too. But they agreed to it too.

[JanSP1971]

Well, who are you going to believe? The law enforcement personnel who actually face down drug and gun traffickers on the U.S.-Mexico border, or Mr. LaPierre, who spends his time traveling I-66 between the NRA's headquarters and the studios of Fox News



This is one of the best lines in the entire story. When are the republicans going to wake up, oh that's right NEVER. Not as long as the NRA is giving them millions of dollars to make sure any and every nut job that wants a gun has every right to buy a gun. They don't care how many women, children and law enforcement personal are killed. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!

[Ohio9]

The issues isn't a republican one. It's about those who want citizens to be able defend themselves vs those who want violent criminals to be well supplied with defenseless victims (clearly the side you and Josh are on). Recently 65 democratic legislators sent a letter to AG Holder stating opposition to bringing back the 1994 AWB. This was followed by a similar letter from 23 state attorney generals.

Meanwhile, the fact remains that law enforcement is overwhelmingly in favor of gun rights:

From a 2005 police survey:

http://www.aphf.org/surveyresults.pdf

* 92% of the respondents supported civilian gun-ownership rights for sport and self defense;
* 95% of the police chiefs and sheriffs believe criminals obtain firearms from illegal sources
* 60% believe a system of nationwide concealed carry would reduce violent crime.

[zakwouldhave]

Ohio9. I agree with you...in a weird way. If police organizations and law enforcement don't get behind any changes we will have an acceptable level of gun violence in this country. I appreciate the statistics you provided.

[JanSP1971]

Nationwide concealed carry..... YOU ARE CRAZY. This isn't the wild west, NO ONE needs to be walking around with a loaded concealed gun besides law enforcement. I would love to see some polling on what the average American thinks about that. My money would bet on this isn't a popular idea. Concealed hand guns have nothing to do with hunting. I would also guess many criminals obtain firearms from gun shows. Come on people there is no way you can get behind the idea the average person needs to be walking around with a loaded concealed gun. Where do you live or go that is so threatening that you need a load gun with you 24/7? I know I have never been any where in my 56 years that there was ever a thought of needing a loaded gun. I find it frightening that some people think this is a good idea, again I don't think it is a popular belief.

[LindaCat]

BATFE ICE and the DEA testified in the following on the topic.

House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere: "Guns, Drugs and Violence: The Merida Initiative and the Challenge in Mexico"
http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1055

Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs: "Law Enforcement Responses to Mexican Drug Cartels"
http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=3718

Certainly not what the anti politicians and pundits have been saying.

[dan-o]

I thought nutjobs couldn't buy guns because we know they follow the letter of the law.

If you look at the FBI gun crime statistics from the 1970's to today, you will find that the actual number of gun murders is down all the while the population has gone up approx 100+million.
In 1973 there were 13072 murders with firearms and in 2006 there was 11566 murders with firearms. The source is DOJ Bureau of Stats. As you can see the while the population has gone up by 1/3 the number of murders with firearms has dropped by approx 1500. And to top that there are more guns in private hands than at any time in US history.

[Rogan]

Don't care? Look how often the mass murderers using guns, are self-identified Republicans, shooting at targets the leadership would choose themselves, if they were given a choice.

The Republicans don't even disapprove of these outbursts of violence. At least in private, they're cheering the madmen on. Obviously - or they'd denounce them, and help fight to stop them.

[CanisLatrans]

But, is that because of the guns? Or because they dig the ideology?

A peaceful person with a gun doesn't cause me to be concerned.

An unarmed white supremacist, on the other hand, does give me cause for concern.

It's the ideology/willingness/desire to hate, hurt and kill that I'm worried about. Not the gun. I can use the same gun to defend myself from those who hate.

Gun control advocates typically mystify me. It seems like they're prefectly happy to accomodate hate and haters, so long as there are no guns involved.

[OdinsEye]

"shooting at targets the leadership would choose themselves, if they were given a choice."

Huh?

"The Republicans don't even disapprove of these outbursts of violence. "

Wrong again.

[molonlabe]

"The Republicans don't even disapprove of these outbursts of violence. At least in private, they're cheering the madmen on. Obviously - or they'd denounce them, and help fight to stop them."


Bwahahahaha!!!!! Then there's your little problem of substantiating that tripe.

[nccanuck]

Mass murderers are self described republicans huh. Gee, I'd love to see your verification on that stat. Oh yea, thats right, you have no facts. Rogan, you are nothing but an uninformed troll when it comes to reality.