Obama's Tears Over Gun Violence Are Only Theater to Mexico's Victims Manuel J. Jauregui - Reforma
go to original January 7, 2016

Obama wiped tears from his cheeks as he spoke emotionally about the victims of gun violence. (Associated Press)

As you well know, friends, our Mexico is yet another victim of the violence caused by the abundance and proliferation of firearms in the United States. It's estimated that between 65 and 75 percent of arms used in Mexico by criminal organizations come from the United States.

There are simply too many guns in U.S. civil society, and their trade is open and very uncontrolled, making it easy for our criminals to arm themselves to the teeth. Mexico is a country that prohibits the sale of non-sporting guns, considering them to be arms of war.

In Mexico, a citizen is allowed to possess a .22 or a shotgun, but definitely not an AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifle ("goat horn"). But the criminals bring them from the United States, where they're sold indiscriminately, to plant terror, kill mayors and run entire towns.

Everything that happens in the United States related to the gun trade affects Mexico. As a result, President Barack Obama's tearful announcement that he had decided to do "something" to stop guns from getting into the hands of criminals or mentally unstable people seemed especially relevant to us. There is survey data that indicates that the U.S. population supports these "Obama laws against weapons".

Between Monday and Tuesday of this week, prominent American gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson's stock rose nearly 20 percent, and it rose 150 percent in the last year. The more restricting gun sales is talked about, the more guns people buy, without the regulations ordered by the President, bypassing Congress, having any real braking effect.

Something will work, as FBI staff are increased to do mental or criminal background checks that would stop a person from buying a gun. But the new rules don't close all possibilities, as they don't have the scope required to make background checks mandatory in private gun sales.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Related: Washington Governor Takes Action on Guns After Obama Move (12Nnews)

Related: Weapons in the US: Massacres and Their Background (La Jornada)

Translated by Rachel Alexander



Mexico Voices is a blogging endeavor aimed at raising the awareness of U.S. citizens regarding the destructive impact of the U.S. economic policy and the War on Drugs on Mexico — on its people, their economic and physical security and their human rights, on the nation’s dysfunctional justice system, and on the rule of law and Mexico’s fragile democracy. Visit the website at MexicoVoices.blogspot.mx

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