Most Mexico killings linked to US guns

US lawmakers are concerned about recent official estimates suggesting that the majority of guns sold to Mexican gun cartel members are linked to the United States.

According to official estimates, out of 35,000 drug-related killings in Mexico during 2009 and 2010, nearly 70 percent involved US-made guns found at crime scenes.

“One, our own people are violating our laws. Number two, people are being misled as to what the jobs might be and I think it’s a humanitarian issue that’s an injustice to the [border agents] people being recruited,” Republican US Senator of Iowa Chuck Grassley told.

In US Congress, lawmakers debated the “Operation Fast and Furious” program on the issue of guns and drugs smuggled across the US-Mexico border, run by the Department of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).

Although the operation was set up to monitor illegal weapons in Mexico, it made guns more accessible to gang members.

“We monitored as they purchased handguns, AK-47 variants and 50 Caliber rifles, almost daily at times. Rather than conducting any enforcement actions, we took notes,” said the ATF Senior Special Agent, John Dodson.

US lawmakers seeking a way to promote gun control are facing a battle with those who think gun control would be a violation of the country’s second amendment, which protects the right to bear arms.

Attention was brought to the issue following the death of 40-year-old border agent Brian Terry, when he was gunned down by members of a Mexican gun cartel.

Officials say that just as thousands of guns in Mexico have been proven to be American-made, the guns found at Terry’s death scene were also linked to the United States.

The Mexican government’s findings indicate that 2010 has been the deadliest year so far, with 15,273 drug-related murders. Half of these killings took place in Chihuahua, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas states.