Editorial: U.S. must stem flow of guns to Mexico
Assault weapons purchased in the United States are flooding into high-violence areas along the Mexican border and contributing to the wave of crime across the border.
A large amount of violence has been centered in and near Nuevo Laredo, where about 128 murders have been recorded this year.
Many of the slayings are believed to be related to the fierce battle between rival drug cartels fighting for control of drug trafficking routes into the United States.
A unified effort by law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border is needed to reduce the flow of guns. That effort would be helped immensely by assigning more federal agents to the border.
Until three months ago, Laredo lacked a permanent office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The city was being managed through a satellite office staffed with a couple of agents deployed from the McAllen headquarters.
In June, the Laredo office was assigned three permanent full-time agents, but this is woefully insufficient, according to ATF Resident Agent-in-Charge Rick Serrano in McAllen.
The office could use at least 10 agents, a supervisor and an investigative analyst.
For the time being, the skeleton staff is being supplemented with five agents from the San Antonio, McAllen and Houston offices.
During the past several months, Serrano said, the agency has seen an increase in cases involving Mexican residents who can’t legally purchase guns in the United States paying American citizens to buy the weapons so they can take them back across the border.
The violence among the drug cartels can’t be stopped overnight, but if their access to high-powered weapons and ammunition is hindered it will stem some of the bloodbath.
More funding for additional ATF agents in Laredo is essential. This is an urgent matter that must be addressed promptly.
More: mysanantonio.com
Stop guns going to Mexico
Assault weapons purchased in the United States are flooding into high-violence areas along the Mexican border and contributing to the wave of crime across the border. A large amount of violence has been centered in and near Nuevo Laredo, where about 128 murders have been recorded this year.
Many of the slayings are believed to be related to the fierce battle between rival drug cartels fighting for control of drug trafficking routes into the United States. A unified effort by law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border is needed to reduce the flow of
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