Posted on 04/24/2009 4:57:05 AM PDT by cbkaty
Texas led the nation as the source of known weapons smuggled into Mexico with 40 percent of the total, or 4,800 firearms in 2008 — a year in which a record number of confiscated weapons were traced to U.S. retailers.
The number of firearms — 12,073 — is more than double that in the previous two years combined, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported. The 2008 figure brings the total number of guns confirmed as having been bought in the U.S. and smuggled into Mexico to 22,848 since 2005.
California was the No. 2 source with about 18 percent of the traces, followed by Arizona with 10 percent, ATF Texas spokeswoman Franceska Perot said.
The new numbers, to be officially released in a report next month, are significant in that ATF tracings of confiscated firearms partially measure the extent to which guns from the U.S. arm Mexico’s cartels. An estimated 10,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico during the past few years.
ATF officials say the banner number last year reflects improved bilateral cooperation, a new political emphasis in Mexico to conduct more traces and the seizure of more firearms from drug traffickers.
The ATF uses the results of gun tracings, which reveal the original seller, as starting points for investigations that can lead to “straw buyers,” people who legally qualify to purchase firearms but then turn them over to smugglers who can’t.
“We basically educated everyone on the importance of tracing and how we can use this as a system to get leads and stop these traffickers,” said J. Dewey Webb, special agent in charge of the Houston ATF field office. “There was a big push and increase in fighting among the drug trafficking organizations, and they’re going to have a higher demand for weapons.”
Counts vary widely
In recent weeks, ATF tracing statistics have become increasingly politicized as gun-control advocates like the Brady Campaign cite them as grounds for new legislation and Second Amendment rights activists challenge what they mean.
Adding to that debate are widely varying counts of the number of guns smuggled into Mexico, the number seized and the number traced. Accurate totals can be difficult to obtain.
In their absence, a fight is underway over the origins of untraced weapons.
Top Mexican and U.S. politicians have asserted that the high percentage of guns traced to U.S. sources in the past — 90 percent of all those submitted for traces — indicates that a large majority of guns in Mexico not traced also comes from U.S. retailers.
But gun rights advocates argue the number of guns traced is but a small fraction of the total in Mexico.
More left wing drivel from the Houston Comical.....and their dwindling pages of fluff....
Control the border you ding dongs...that is the solution to all border issues.
The 90% convinces only their own Choir......the dolts may have realized this....
This is more coordination by the left on this issue in order to raise public support for firearm restrictions.
They will not ban weapons, but instead, try to make it easier to trace weapons....something nobody can oppose as it will only impact the smugglers and not honest citizens.
Of course, such tracing will involve ballistic fingerprinting and record retentions....defacto registration.
Masters of the obvious.
Hmmm... three states which border Mexico have high instances of stolen or purchased guns getting into Mexico.
That state which has the longest border with Mexico rates number 1.
I guess if I were a Mexican criminal, I wouldn’t travel to Vermont to pick up a piece, either...
LLS
Control the border you dullards, and be ready to be surprised at how drastically all sorts of bad things stop happening. It's not rocket science, brain surgery or even magic. It's pure and simple common sense, and thereby hangs the tale. Liberals have no concept of common sense.
Sigh....
These answers are so simple if one just uses their mind unfettered by demigods.
Vince
Watching Greta the other night and I believe she is an anti gun person. Nonetheless, she had on some guy from the Phoenix ATF and they were at the range. The ATF was demonstrating how an AK 47 round cannot be stopped by a vest commonly worn by the police. The implication was only these “assault weapons” can do that. Of course there was no mention of the fact the vest demonstrated upon was the minimum protection vest, no additional inserts, and that police in normal police work, such as stopping cars, are not frequently fired upon from inside by perps armed with rifles.
They also demonstrated an M-60 firing. I cannot recall the last time, er make that ever saw, an M-60 for sale in a gun shop. The best story was the fact the ATF was not able to stop a 50 cal BMG from going over the border. That was when I turned the show off as they were showing the cans of belted 50 ammo they did seize. I wonder where the 50 came from? Oh, that was probably never mentioned.
Vince
DUH...I’m so surprised it wasn’t Vermont or Minnesota. The Houston Comical scores another session with Captain Obvious.
“Control the border” is, indeed, the solution. An obvious and easy one at that. Still, as things now stand, I’m all for ceding the Rio Grande Valley to Los Angeles. Ashes to ashes, and crap to crap. Juat need to find a way to keep the Ruby Red Grapefruit and South Padre Island.
Go to the head of the class.....
How about the ATF tell us how many were formally & legally approved for export?
BFD...
The Hegelian Dialectic in full effect.
Same gubmint control...democrat justice....
I watched that segment. What struck me is the 1 quick sentence that the full auto guns came from Central America, then during the gun range portion of the segment the only thing they fired were full auto guns . . .
I suspect they have figured out that the 90% figure isn’t gonna past the smell test when more firearm sales control legislation is being fast tracked through congress.
This report is contrary to the other popular meme out there that over 2000 guns a day are being smuggled into Mexico.
I expect a higher degree of coordination from our lying media.
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