A Mexican mayor and 17 others were shot dead in an attack linked to a drug cartel.
C. Rubini CTC, Vatican News
The attack comes as the Mexican government vows to file a second arms lawsuit in the United States, this time against arms traffickers, after the first lawsuit against arms manufacturers has failed.
At least 18 people were killed when gunmen opened fire in the municipality of San Miguel Totolapan in southern Mexico. City mayor Conrado Mendoza and his father were among the victims of Wednesday’s shooting.
Local sources say the gunmen launched a series of coordinated attacks inside the building with the aim of killing the mayor. He said the attackers were believed to be members of Los Tequileros, a criminal gang linked to powerful drug cartels.
Pencil case
Meanwhile, the government has announced that it will initiate a new lawsuit in the United States for responsibility for the cross-border flow of firearms.
More than 70 percent of the firearms smuggled into Mexico come from the United States. With this dwindling armed power, armed drug gangs and their henchmen often outnumber the Mexican police and even the military.
war on drugs
The drug war in Mexico, which has been going on for more than sixteen years, has claimed nearly a quarter of a million lives. This is why the Mexican government is so determined.
This new move comes from Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard. He explained this in his speech to the Mexican Senate. This time, he targets arms dealers. Especially arms traffickers in the US border states. The new lawsuit was filed in Arizona, just across the border.
The case focuses on smugglers, who often collect small quantities of smuggled semi-automatic firearms from customers and then illegally sell them to Mexican criminal gangs, making huge savings.
Mexico claims $ 10 billion in damages for the damage caused by firearms produced by arms manufacturers that fall into the hands of criminals. Mexico accuses the United States of protecting arms manufacturers. But it remains to be seen whether legal loopholes can target gun shops and those who buy them illegally.
Mexico has very strict laws that prevent citizens from owning a firearm in self-defense. It is therefore ironic that Mexican gangs have an unlimited supply of weapons and ammunition to wage an unstoppable reign of terror nationwide.
