Pubdate: Sat, 13 Nov 2010 Source: El Paso Times (TX) Copyright: 2010 El Paso Times Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/townhall/ci_14227323 Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829 ARMS DEALERS: ROOT OUT LARGE-SCALE RINGS There's an apparent disconnect -- from hierarchy down to field agents - -- in our country's endeavor to keep U.S. firearms out of the ongoing drug wars in Mexico. A Department of Justice review indicates at least three problems we must face: Agents in the field have their focus on small gun dealers rather than on large-scale smuggling rings. However, funding has been cut in some gun-tracing operations. And information between agencies is not being adequately shared. That includes not sharing with counterparts in Mexico. There's some feeling that in order to show arrests are being made, agents on the ground are racking up numbers by focusing on the many little-guy arms dealers rather than using what resources they have to seek out and arrest the more evasive big-time gun-runners. As Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Deputy Director Kenneth E. Melson said, funding last year only covered seven of the 23 agents needed to expand intelligence operations, and that there was still no money available for the other 16 this year. He did rebut the DOJ report by noting that gun investigations are up 109 percent and prosecutions are up by 54 percent. We have determined that part of our role in helping Mexico regain control of its country is our stopping arms importation and also stopping the billions of dollars in cash going into Mexico as lucre from drug sales in the U.S. In Mexico, citizens don't have firearms. Only law enforcers, soldiers and the bad guys have guns. The billions of dollars going into Mexico allow the drug cartels to purchase not only weapons, but major influence in all walks of life. We laud our agents doing ground work in weapons confiscation and prosecution of dealers. It is hoped we can also get the manpower to root out the major arms dealers -- from the U.S. or any other country -- who are using our border with Mexico as a crossing point for the weapons that keep the cartels strong and, so far, in power. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt