LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "Congress has been virtually moribund while powerful Mexican drug trafficking organizations continue to gain unfettered access to military-style firearms coming from the United States," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat says. She has since been joined in her call by Sens. Charles Schumer, D-New York, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island.

According to the report, more than 70 percent of 29,284 firearms submitted to the U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for tracing by the Mexican government during 2009 and 2010 originated in the U.S.

These factoids have become the latest element in a debate over how large a role the U.S. plays in arming the nefarious Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for more than 34,000 killings since 2006.

Proponents of stricter gun controls now tougher regulations must be acted upon in order to stem the tide of gun smuggling between the U.S. and Mexican border. Opponents say that the statistics are skewed, saying that Mexico asks the ATF to trace only weapons that it believes are from the United States.


In a letter to Sen. Feinstein, the ATF acknowledged that the United States keeps no record of criminal firearms seized in Mexico and that "the Mexican government does not submit every recovered firearm to ATF for tracing" - as such, the ATF-provided figures may not be representative of all firearms recovered by Mexican officials.

"This report confirms what many of us already know to be true. ... It is still too easy for Mexican drug lords to get their hands on deadly military-grade weapons within our borders," Schumer said. "We need to redouble our efforts to keep violent firearms out of the hands of these traffickers."

The three senators are calling for reinstatement of an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 and better enforcement of a ban on the import of military-style weapons, in addition to closing a provision that allows private sellers at gun shows to sell weapons without a background check.

"This report outlines common sense measures that will help protect our border and our communities by keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of Mexican gangs and drug cartels," Whitehouse said.