Mexican police have revealed that guns used in the attack on Mexican troops outside of Guadalajara had last been registered in Laredo, Texas, adding to evidence that a Texas “gunwalking” operation may be taking place. “Gunwalking” is the allowance of illegal gun sales believed to be destined for Mexican drug cartels in order to track the sellers and purchasers.
This highly controversial scheme was used in Arizona from 2009-2011 to combat traffickers at the Mexican cartel leadership level, rather than at the lower level of American gun purchasers. The most notable scheme was “Operation Fast and Furious”, a Department of Justice initiative under their broader “Project Gunrunner” Southwest area program. While this program resulted in 34 indictments, it is estimated that at least 1400 guns were lost in Mexico through this operation. Furthermore, guns used in the murder of United States Border Patrol agent Brian Terry were found to have been part of the operation.
If a Texas gunwalking scheme is underway, this could severely undermine both US and Mexican efforts to combat gun violence and will put huge numbers of American and Mexican lives at stake. As Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Phoenix Field Division agent John Dodson commented on the failed Arizona gunwalking programs, "I cannot begin to think how the risk of letting guns fall into the hands of known criminals could possibly advance any legitimate law enforcement interest."
