Quartermasters of the cartels - US gun manufacturers. Gallego Backs Bill to Curb Flow of US Firearms to Mexican Cartels
Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is co-sponsoring a new legislative effort aimed at stemming the illegal flow of American-made firearms into the hands of Mexican drug cartels.
The Stop Arming Cartels Act, introduced by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), seeks to close loopholes that allow cartels to obtain high-powered weapons from the United States.
Each year, an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 American-made guns are trafficked into Mexico, often through unlicensed gun dealers, straw purchases, and thefts from federal firearms licensees, according to Gallego's office. It cites a report that found between 2014 and 2018, more than 9,000 firearms recovered after violent crimes in Mexico and Central America were traced back to gun stores in Arizona.
"For too long, weak gun laws have put guns in the hands of cartels and fueled the violence that threatens our border and our border communities,” Gallego said. “I’m taking action to close the loopholes cartels exploit and make sure our laws work to keep people safe, not arm criminals.”
https://www.kawc.org/news/2025-02-08/gallego-backs-bill-to-curb-flow-of-u-s-firearms-to-mexican-cartels