Tom Stilson at BigGovernment.com suggests the U. S. Government May Be Primary Suppliers of Mexican Drug Cartel Guns:
Based upon the statistics I have compiled, our State and Defense Departments may be the premier suppliers of weaponry to Mexican drug cartels…
These statistics imply the State and Defense Departments may very well be the top suppliers of small arms to Mexico’s drug cartels and not civilians. Only the information obtained from ATF Firearms Traces will tell. However, those records are not public
Yes, indeed. I wondered about this very question in a letter to BATFE in April, 2009:
Have any of these weapons been traced to aid provided to Mexico by the United States through official channels? That is, which, if any, of these firearms were legally imported by Mexico from United States law enforcement or military sources, or any other government departments or programs?
I assume that transfers from any programs officially sanctioned by the United States will have been precisely documented.
I got stonewalled. So I asked again in June of 2009:
I am in receipt of your letter dated 22-June-2009, a response to my inquiry of 20-April-2009. The information was not helpful and I do need further assistance. [He asked me to let him know.]
In my April 20th letter, I asked for specific information about the sources of US firearms submitted to BATFE for tracing. You indicate that you have no information about “the total number of firearms seized by government authorities in Mexico.” Thank you for letting me know that cannot answer that question, but I did not ask it.
What I did ask, and what has not been answered, regards information you certainly have.
What are the various sources in the United States of those firearms submitted by Mexican authorities to the BATFE for tracing? That is, of the submitted firearms you have, or have had, in your possession – where in the US did they come from?
I specifically inquired about the following: “Which of these weapons can be traced to official aid provided by the United States to Mexico? That is, which, if any, of these firearms were legally imported by Mexico from United States law enforcement or military sources, or other government departments or programs?
I assume that such transfers from law enforcement or military sources in the United States will have been precisely documented.
In addition, can you provide a breakdown by type of weapon? Handguns vs long guns and the number of semi-automatic, automatic and other types would be extremely helpful.”
I think it is obvious to both of us that you have this information, since you have had the firearms in question in your possession for the purposes of tracing them.
Thank you in advance,
etc.
Haven’t heard anything since.
Federal omerta.