Congressmen García and Castro join Victims of Mass Shootings and Disappearances in the U.S. and Mexico to Demand Passage of Legislation to Stem the Flow of Weapons to Mexico
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Jesús “Chuy'' García (IL-04) joined survivors of gun violence and the People’s Movement for Peace and Justice, a pioneering coalition of U.S. and Mexican gun safety and human rights groups at a press conference to call for the passage of theStop Arming Cartels Act, the ARMAS Act, legislation introduced by Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) that would help stop the flow of weapons from the U.S. to Mexico. The advocates from both countries are convening in Washington this week to address this crisis, introducing a Binational Agenda for Peace and Justice and advocating for crucial legislation that could save countless lives.
“In the United States there is a lot of talk about the violence of the drug cartels in Mexico, but there is not enough talk about where their guns originate. We don’t have to look far,” said Congressman García. “A recent data leak of Mexican military intelligence revealed that 78,000 firearms recovered in Mexico came from gun shops and smugglers in the United States. Gun violence is a binational issue, and addressing the root causes of this violence and its interconnected effects requires a binational approach. It requires the commitment and involvement of civil society, elected leaders, advocates, and survivors.”
Earlier today, Congressman Castro joined Congressman García at a policy briefing focused on the root causes of gun violence in the U.S. and Mexico. “Over the last several years, I’ve traveled across Latin America and the Caribbean and spoken with lawmakers and members of civil society about the devastating - and rising - impact of American guns on their communities. America is exporting our gun violence epidemic, and our existing laws are not sufficient to grapple with the full scope of the problem. I appreciate the longstanding efforts of Global Exchange and the other groups involved in today’s briefing to advocate for binational peace solutions and I look forward to working together to advance peace and stability across our hemisphere,” said Congressman Castro.
“If they truly care about the border and the fentanyl crisis that are impacting too many communities in the U.S., Mexico, and beyond, it’s time for all Members of Congress to address gun violence. Pass the ARMAS Act, the Stop Arming Cartels Act, and ban assault weapons,” saidPo Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance.
“Our weak gun laws are resulting in the deaths of our children, as well as those across the border. We must take action now for Lexi Rubio and all victims of gun violence,” said Kimberly Rubio, the mother of Lexi, a victim of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
“I am the mother of Benjamin Ascencio Bautista, one of the 43 students in Ayotzinapa that disappeared on September 26, 2014 in Iguala, Guerrero. To me, peace means finding my son, only then will I and the loved ones of all those who disappeared be able to have peace,” said Doña Cristina Bautista, mother of Benjamin Ascencio Bautista.
“This is the first time that victims from Uvalde, Sandy Hook, Ayotzinapa and other mass shooting victims are coming together in Washington DC to call for congressional action to end gun violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border,” said Marco Castillo, co-Executive Director, Global Exchange. “With over 200,000 firearms flowing annually into Mexico from the U.S., more than 110,000 forcefully disappeared people in Mexico and more than 650 mass shootings annually in the US - the time for action is now.”
Pictures of the events can be found here.