Mexico, Vatican call for international arms sales treaty to stop flow of drug war guns

Guanajuato, Mexico -
Pope Benedict XVI, who is in the last 24 hours of a three day visit to Mexico, has principally addressed himself to the country's youth, especially those affected by the ravages of narcotics trafficking and chronic drug war violence. Last night he had a 40 minute meeting with president Felipe Calderón, at the end of which Mexico and Vatican State called for an international treaty to "regulate in a responsible way the sale of long arms and handguns, with the goal that their availability to criminals be avoided."

The theme is a common one for Calderón, who has frequently implored the United States to take steps to check the flow of southbound guns, especially assault weapons. The Mexican government said earlier this year that 140,000 such firearms have been seized from traffickers since the drug war was launched in December 2006, and officials here claim that as many as 80% of them were sold or originated in the United States. On Mar. 1 Calderón called for renewal of the U.S. Assault Weapons Ban, which expired in 2004. Many political forces north of the border oppose it.

A joint communique issued by Mexico and the Vatican last night said that a treaty regulating international commerce in firearms was appropriate, "since their proliferation obviously has favored organized crime."

"Dear friends in the United States - please, no more assault weapons to Mexico": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/dear-friends-in-united-states-please-no.html.
U.S. guns play key role in Mexico's raging drug war, says president Felipe Calderón: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/us-guns-play-key-role-in-mexicos-raging.html.
Calderón to Biden: "We're partners, yes; but stop weapons flow, money laundering": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/calderon-to-biden-were-partners-but.html.