Traditionally, one of the main duties of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is to monitor, investigate and confiscate illegal weapons that are found within the borders of the United States. However, a recent report issued by ATF agents in Arizona to the U.S. House of Representatives has caused quite a stir.

According to Reuters, ATF agents working on the U.S.-Mexican border in Arizona were told not to arrest numerous individuals who were either in possession of a deadly weapon or smuggling guns from the United States into Mexico. The agents reportedly monitored numerous purchases of handguns, AK-47's and other high caliber rifles. The agents took notes on what they observed and wrote reports, but reportedly did nothing to stop the transportation of weapons across the border.

It is no secret that the U.S. border with Mexico has been plagued with drug-related violence for decades. It is believed that diplomatic relations have become strained between the two countries due to the large number of guns and other weapons that have been smuggled into Mexico from the United States. New reports show that approximately 70 percent of the illegal weapons that were recovered in Mexico during 2009 and 2010 came from the United States.

Following the reports about the ATF's unusual actions, many lawmakers and citizens are left wondering what is going on. They desperately want to know why illegal weapons were allowed to be transported into Mexico without ATF intervention. This incident seems particularly concerning in light of the fact that numerous weapons from the United States were found near the border where border patrol officer was recently gunned down by Mexican citizens.

This incident, combined with recent gun-related tragedies such as the shooting of Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords, has reignited a national debate over whether gun safety laws in this country are adequate to protect the safety of our citizens.

Source

Reuters: "U.S. agents slam gun sting effort on Mexico border," Jeremy Pelofsky, 15 Jun. 2011