Mexico asks US Congress to renew ban on assault weapons

Mexico city, Aug 23 (IANS) Mexico's Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu has asked the US Congress to restrict the sale of assault weapons as "they cause harm on both sides of the border".

Massieu made this call at the Second Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty of the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Massieu said that Mexico "places the highest priority" on this matter, as the country has suffered from the illegal arms trade, with assault weapons often legally bought from gun shops across the border in the US and transported illegally to Mexico.

She said that "our country prioritises closing access to gun smugglers and those who irresponsibly bring in guns in search of an immediate economic benefit".

She said that Mexico was prey to some of the most delicate and urgent situations facing the international community, namely the illegal trafficking and sales of guns, and the violence linked to this.

The US first passed the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1994, under the presidency of Bill Clinton. However, the ban expired in 2004 and has never been renewed, despite multiple attempts to do so.