Rep. Joaquin Castro stated that the Stop Arming Cartels Act, aimed at preventing American-made weapons from reaching Mexican cartels, is an "important step" towards reducing violence in the U.S. and Latin America. Castro and co-sponsors made a statement regarding the proposed legislation in a press release on May 17.
"When I speak to leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean, their number-one request is for Congress to stop American weapons of war from falling into the hands of the gangs that are destabilizing their countries," said Joaquin Castro, U.S. Rep from Texas 20th District. "Especially in Mexico, access to .50 caliber rifles has fundamentally altered the balance of power between criminal organizations and the government and allowed cartels to become virtually untouchable. Congress can have meaningful debates about broader gun safety reform — but we should all be able to agree that U.S. gun manufacturers should not be selling the weapons that Mexican cartels use to down military helicopters and attack police convoys. The Stop Arming Cartels Act is an important step to restore regional stability and prevent the violence that drives forced migration across our hemisphere."
According to the press release, the legislation would ban the manufacture, importation, sale, and possession of .50 caliber rifles, require registry of already possessed firearms, and allow victims of gun violence to sue manufacturers or dealers. It would also mandate that dealers report sales of .50 caliber rifles to law enforcement.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro
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In 2023, Project Thor, an initiative to investigate the weaponization of cartels, found that 85% of firearms at violent crime scenes in Mexico could be traced to the United States, CBS News reported.
The goal of the Stop Arming Cartels Act is to protect Latin American nations from local violence and diminish the power of cartels. "Just as our gun laws have allowed for far too many lives to be lost at the hands of gun violence, these same laws have also allowed for the flow of guns into Mexico, South America, and beyond — bringing these communities pain, loss, and devastation," said bill co-sponsor Rep. Maxwell Frost.
"A refusal to act would mean continuing to arm transnational criminal organizations and cartels that purchase these weapons for illicit acts," said co-sponsor Rep. Veronica Escobar.
Castro has represented Texas’ 20th District in the House of Representatives since 2012. He serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
