Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
Goodman, Colby and Michel Marizco. 2010 ‘Introduction.’ US Firearms Trafficking to Mexico: New Data and Insights Illuminate Key Trends and Challenges; Working Paper Series on US-Mexico Cooperation, p. 5. San Diego, CA: Trans-Border Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, University of San Diego. 1 September
Relevant contents
Introduction
With information gleaned from increased Mexican firearm seizures and U.S. prosecutions, it is now possible to provide a better picture of some of the key questions about U.S. firearms trafficking to Mexico as well as some of the key trends and challenges.
In May 2010, for example, the Mexican government, which has received training from ATF [US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms] to better identify firearms, said that of the 75,000 firearms it seized in the last three years about 80 percent, or 60,000 firearms, came from the United States.(18)
Based on information from U.S. prosecutions, at least an estimated 4,976 U.S.-origin firearms were trafficked to Mexico during FY 2009, up more than 2,000 firearms from similar information for FY 2007.
The top two firearms purchased in the United States and recovered in Mexico over the past three years were in order AK-47 type semi-automatic rifles and AR-15 semi-automatic rifle clones.
Source cited:
18) Mary Beth Sheridan, "Mexico's Calderon tells Congress he needs U.S. help in fighting drug wars," The Washington Post, May 21, 2010, online at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/20/AR2010052002911.html. Kara Rowland, "Calderon Blames U.S. guns for Violence," The Washington Times, May 21, 2010, online at http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/21/calderon-faults-us-guns-for-mexico-violence/.