Columbia Standard

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin and U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro have introduced the Stop Arming Cartels Act, a legislative effort aimed at reducing firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexican drug cartels. The bill addresses the estimated 200,000 to 500,000 American-made guns trafficked into Mexico each year, primarily through unlicensed dealers, straw purchasers, and thefts from federal firearms licensees.

The proposed legislation seeks to mitigate what is described as an "iron river" of gun trafficking facilitated by weak U.S. gun laws and industry practices. This flow of firearms is linked to increased violence, cartel activities related to migrant smuggling at the southern border, and narcotics trade across the border back into the United States. A study by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in 2021 indicated that 70 percent of crime guns recovered in Mexico between 2014-2018 were sourced from the U.S.

Durbin emphasized the need for action: "Our country’s lax gun laws have created a deadly, vicious cycle of firearms trafficking that’s riddled with violence and chaos... With the Stop Arming Cartels Act, we can disarm cartels and help prevent the violence."

Castro highlighted international concerns: "For years... their number one request is for the United States to stop the gun trafficking that originates within our borders... I appreciate Senator Durbin’s leadership on this issue in the Senate."

Key provisions of the bill include prohibiting future manufacture or sale of .50 caliber rifles by nongovernmental entities; regulating existing .50 caliber rifles under federal law; allowing lawsuits against manufacturers violating certain laws; restricting firearm sales to individuals sanctioned under specific acts; and requiring dealers to report multiple rifle sales.

The bill has garnered support from several senators including Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono, Cory Booker, Mark Kelly, Tim Kaine among others. It also has endorsements from organizations like Brady United Against Gun Violence and Amnesty International.

This initiative continues Durbin's ongoing efforts to strengthen U.S. gun laws following previous legislative actions such as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act signed into law in June 2022.