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The United States should reinstate the expired ban on assault weapons, not just in response to the violence that often results after many of these weapons are smuggled across the border into Mexico but because many of these weapons are involved in illegal activity right here in the United States.

The ban on assault weapons expired in 2004 during the Bush administration but recently the Obama administration has announced its plans to reinstate the ban.

Some argue that the assault weapons ban infringes upon the rights of law abiding Americans to bear arms however if law abiding citizens need to carry an AK-47 for protection then from whom or what are they seeking protection?

A majority of assault weapons are used in illegal activity here in the United States ranging from gang violence to home invasions, not to mention the large number of assault weapons that are transported across the border into Mexico and used by the Mexican drug cartels to commit horrendous crimes. By reinstating the ban on these weapons the Obama administration is taking a step in the right direction.

Those who oppose the assault weapons ban point out that the Mexican drug cartels have enough money to obtain sophisticated weapons from other parts of the world should the United States reinstate its ban on assault weapons. While the cartels can definitely find other manufacturers of assault weapons throughout the world at least by reinstating the ban the United States will not continue to virtually hand the weapons to Mexico.

The United States has already seen an influx in kidnappings and home invasions in cities such as Phoenix and Tucson as well as an increase in drug related violence in cities along the Mexican border like El Paso. More than 200 cities across the United States have already been affected and the numbers are still growing. It is clear that the drug related violence and crime that is taking place in Mexico has definitely infiltrated the United States and this is only the beginning.

Now is the time to take bold steps and begin fighting to protect communities through out this country. Along with reinstating the ban on assault weapons the United States should also initiate random and frequent security check points; increasing the numbers of vehicles that are inspected as they enter Mexico from the United States. Many of these vehicles carry weapons and large sums of cash between the two countries regularly and frequent check points may help to curtail this activity.

While banning assault weapons will probably not put an end to all of the illegal activities that are at the heart of the Mexican drug cartels it is a step in the right direction and with all of the violence that is taking place in Mexico who could blame Mexico for asking the United States to take to such a step.

The ban on assault weapons is just one of many security measures that the United States needs to adopt as it tries to prepare and defend itself from one of the worst drug wars in recent history.

Learn more about this author, S. L. Wheeler.
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