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Senators and federal agents say U.S. guns are arming Mexican cartels; call for supply‑side action
Summary
Senators pressed DEA, HSI and FBI witnesses on the flow of firearms from the United States to Mexican cartels, discussed proposed legislation and highlighted law-enforcement seizures and investigations into straw purchases and outbound trafficking.
Senator Dick Durbin told the Judiciary Committee he introduced the Stop Arming Cartels Act and urged tighter controls on high‑powered weapons and civil remedies for dealers who knowingly arm cartels. "If your firearms dealership is gonna knowingly transact with these cartels, should you be stopped? Should you be held responsible? I think the answer is obvious," Durbin said.
Why it matters: Multiple senators and witnesses agreed that firearms trafficked from the United States empower cartel violence in Mexico and contribute to violence along the border and inside the United States. Durbin cited ATF data in committee remarks that,…
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