Christian Smith
The Stop Arming Cartels Act makes it illegal to manufacture, sell and possess a rifle ‘capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition’
The Capitol Dome is seen as lawmakers prepare to leave for their holiday recess, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
El Paso, Texas (Border Report) – Two members of Congress from Texas and one from Florida have introduced a bill they say will reduce drug cartel violence by banning .50 caliber rifles in America.
O Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2024 proposes to prohibit the manufacture, sale, possession, import or transfer of .50 caliber rifles by civilians in the United States. Legislation introduced by Democratic U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro and Veronica Escobar of Texas, and Maxwell Frost of Florida would require anyone who owned one of these rifles before the bill took effect to register it with the National Gun Registration and Transfer Registry. of Fire.
The bill also calls for victims of gun violence to be able to sue manufacturers and retailers who violate a federal law known as the Kingpin Law. Establishes an exemption to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act that protects gun manufacturers from most lawsuits.
Other provisions include requiring gun dealers to report multiple rifle sales to state and local authorities.
“When I speak to leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean, their number one request is that Congress prevent American weapons of war from falling into the hands of the gangs that are destabilizing their countries,” Castro said in a statement. “Especially in Mexico, access to .50 caliber shotguns has fundamentally altered the balance of power between criminal organizations and the government and allowed cartels to become virtually untouchable.”
He said the cartels used these rifles to shoot down military helicopters and attack police convoys south of the border.
Escobar, who represents most of El Paso, said the project will avoid bloodshed.
“Gun laws championed by Republican lawmakers in this country make Americans less safe. The consequences not only affect our communities, but also impact our neighbors in Latin America and around the world,” said Escobar. “Refusal to act would mean continuing to arm transnational criminal organizations and cartels that purchase these weapons for illicit acts.
Mexico attributes much of the violence within its borders to weapons manufactured in the US and illegally imported by transnational criminal organizations. The Mexican government is suing major American gun manufacturers in U.S. federal district court in Massachusetts and a handful of gun stores in Arizona; says these entities sell weapons knowing they will end up in the hands of Mexican criminals.
The rifles in question are mainly used by military forces. However, gun enthusiasts in the US also use them and some companies make revenue from the sale of ammunition and tours. shooting camps feature demonstrations on how to properly fire the gun. Some El Paso sporting goods stores feature Sales of .50 caliber rifles and ammunition on their websites.
