Stop gun smuggling: a petition from Mexico's Alianza Cívica

07/05/11
Latin America and the Caribbean
U.S. Policy, Arms Control

Mexico's Alianza Cívica is asking people worldwide to sign this electronic petition, which asks President Obama to take three steps to limit the torrent of U.S.-purchased weapons illegally entering Mexico.

  1. Immediately detain and prohibit the importation of assault weapons to the United States, because many of them are sent as contraband to Mexico.
  2. Order dealers to report to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) the sale of multiple assault rifles to the same person over a period of five days.
  3. Increase the regulatory capacity of the ATF in those regions of the United States that supply the weapons contraband to Mexico, especially in border states.

The ease with which criminals obtain high-powered weapons at U.S. gun shops and gun shows is increasing the death toll in Mexico. If you agree that the United States needs to do more, please take a minute and add your name to the petition.