Curbing Gun Violence in Latin America Requires Changes to U.S. Gun Policies

The debate surrounding gun policy in the U.S. has been contentious for decades, with passionate voices on both sides. Gun control advocates continue to push for stricter gun laws to decrease the horrific gun violence rate throughout the country. However, they face an influential gun lobby that views any form of gun control as an attack on Americans’ Second Amendment rights. In many respects, the gun lobby is winning, with both gun manufacturing and ownership continuing to rise. The implications of this go beyond the borders of the U.S.

While primarily seen as a domestic issue, U.S. gun policies directly impact neighboring Latin America. The ease at which guns can be attained in the U.S. has led to a steady flow of guns to the region. These illegal guns play a significant role in arming gangs and cartels, leading to high rates of gun violence in the area. While this is just one component of what has destabilized many Latin American nations in recent years, U.S. officials have a responsibility to acknowledge the negative impact American guns have had on Latin America and offer aid and tactical support to get these guns off of Latin American streets. In addition, they must pass stricter domestic gun laws at the federal and state levels that decrease these illegal movements and hold gun manufacturers accountable. 

The Americas have become the homicide capital of the world. According to a 2017 UN study, the homicide rate in the Americas is nearly three times the global average. The countries closest to the U.S. border, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, all have per capita gun death rates that rank among the top ten globally. All the countries in the top ten are in the Americas. Gangs and drug cartels are often the perpetrators behind this violence, but they are able to cause such extreme violence rates because they are well-armed, often with American guns. In Mexico, 70% of guns confiscated are American-made. In Central America, this number is around 40%. These guns have been destabilizing a region that was already fragile from decades of conflict and U.S. intervention, leading to further adverse effects. The violence and public safety concerns discourage economic investment, which, in turn, increases poverty and decreases opportunities for Latin Americans. 

A combination of this lack of opportunity and the increased risk of becoming a victim of gun violence has propelled a mass migration to the U.S., mainly from Central America. The situation has become so dire that thousands of people are willing to make this dangerous journey, oftentimes by foot. As the Biden administration continues to vow to tackle the root causes of this migration, they frequently mention the need to curb violence while notably failing to acknowledge the role American guns play in worsening the violence these migrants are fleeing. Their strategy of providing aid to the area is welcome. However, how the U.S. distributes this aid is important. According to surveys of previous programs implemented by the Obama administration, using aid to support community-based organizations effectively reduced homicides. Distributing aid directly to governments and security forces can oftentimes be less effective, largely due to the corruption that has plagued these institutions for years. Along with directly supporting these community-based initiatives and finally acknowledging the U.S. role in this gun violence, the Biden administration must continue to push for changes to domestic laws that would restrict the flow of guns to Latin America. This includes changing policies to hold gun manufacturers and salespeople responsible when their carelessness leads to increases in smuggling and violence. 

According to a lawsuit filed by Mexico against the principal U.S. gun manufacturers, an estimated 880,000 U.S. guns are smuggled across the border annually. The lawsuit, filed in a U.S. court, accuses these manufacturers of fueling the rising gun violence in Mexico. As Mexico has strict gun laws of its own, the proliferation of U.S. guns has made it extremely difficult to control this crisis. Mexico is seeking $10 billion from these manufacturers to offset the damage caused by their products, including the economic losses caused by increased violence. The lawsuit was dismissed based on U.S. law that protects gun manufacturers from most lawsuits regarding their role in gun deaths. This lack of accountability leaves little incentive for gun manufacturers and sellers to take additional precautionary measures to ensure that their products do not fall into the wrong hands and through the southern border. 

The Biden administration has celebrated getting bipartisan gun control legislation passed, the first in three decades. Along with this, Biden continues to use executive authority to implement stronger gun control measures as he pushes states to do the same. These efforts have been largely insufficient in decreasing the flow of guns into Latin America as the prevalence of ghost guns continues to be an issue. Additionally, some states, such as Texas, have relaxed gun laws that make it even easier to obtain a gun. The Center for American Progress recommends several policies, including making gun trafficking a standalone federal crime, increasing gun sales and trafficking transparency, and requiring universal background checks. Until the federal and state governments take bold action to address the proliferation of American-made guns in Latin America, issues will likely persist. Both acknowledgment and effective aid policies are incredibly important. However, without bringing the illegal flow of guns to a halt, many Latin Americans will continue to suffer the consequences of American inaction.

Author: Dominic DiFiglia

Managing Editor: Sebastian Reyes

Web Editor: Riley Graham