Dear N.R.A.

From Blogging by Boz:

Arturo Sarukhan, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, said it should be in the National Rifle Association’s interest to stop the illegal flow of guns going south. After all, the US second amendment was not intended to provide arms to unregulated militias in Mexico.

The NRA’s response via Reuters:

“It is wrong for him to blame the second amendment and the National Rifle Association for a problem that originates in his own country,” NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said. “This is a very serious and sad situation but the solution has to come from within Mexico.”

It’s the sort of hardline response I’d expect from the NRA. But at second glance, it’s also interesting to compare his language to some of those who advocate for legalization of drugs. The NRA insists that they shouldn’t have to deal with the supply side of the problem because it’s Mexico’s demand for guns driving the illegal arms trade. Blame the country that creates the demand.

Perhaps, if Ambassador Sarukhan were to follow up on the NRA’s  “interesting” supply-side defense of their interests, he might respond:

Dear National Rifle Association:

I have the honor of informing you that my government is in agreement with your suggestion that a “solution has to come from within Mexico.”  Our problem being that with unrestricted firearms imports, we will, of course, as allowed by GATT and other international agreements, be raising tariffs on other U.S. imports to recoup the costs for losses to our economy from the firearms imports.

As nothing in Mexican law prevents individuals from filing  lawsuits against the manufacturer of dangerous products, Federal Ministers will be assisting those citizens harmed by U.S. firearms in filing suits against the sellers and manufacturers.  Because these suits will be brought in Mexican cours, and it will be impossible to collect such judgments as the courts may order, we will — as is done in the United States in similar situations — seize whatever U.S. assets are available in Mexico to satisfy the court’s rulings.  This would include, for example, not just United States government funds in Mexican banks, but real property, automobiles and goods owned by U.S. citizens.

Much as your organization believes your Constitutional guarantees of the right to bear arms extends to sales for export, our Constitution guarantees the right of any citizen to engage in any honest enterprise he or she may desire.  Perhaps we have been doing a disservice to our narcotics growers and exporters, similar to that your organization believes is done by those who object to the unrestricted sale of firearms.

Thank you for your enlightened attitude on this.  We will be immediately opening our borders to the export and sale of methamphetamine, marijuana and heroin.  We have asked the governments of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia and Venezuela to open their trade in coca and cocaine derivatives, which — in passing through Mexico — also would require a solution to come from within your country.

With all best wishes —

Arturo Sarukhan