New York Attorney General Letitia James and other 12 attorneys general on Sept. 20 called on Congress to take action against the smuggling of U.S.-made guns to Caribbean nations.
In a letter written to Congress, the attorneys general said that New Yorkers and Americans who lived in Caribbean nations were the victims of gun violence, according to a press release. The coalition proposed measures to combat this crisis, including equipping inspectors at with sufficient resources to search for firearms, adequate funding of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and passing the Caribbean Arms Trafficking Causes Harm (CATCH) Act.
“American-made guns are flowing into Caribbean nations and communities and fueling violence, chaos, and senseless tragedies throughout the region,” said James. “This issue hits especially close to home, as many New Yorkers have family in Caribbean nations who are enduring dangerous conditions, partially because of easy access to dangerous weapons from our country. We have a responsibility to address this crisis, and that is why I am calling on Congress to take action to stop gun trafficking into Caribbean countries. When we tackle the gun violence crisis from every angle, we protect everyone.”
The letter further cited a 2023 United Nations report that named the U.S. as a major source of firearms in Haiti, while the Jamaican government estimates that 200 guns are trafficked from the U.S. to the island monthly.
The CATCH Act, if passed, would provide state and federal governments with more detailed information on gun trafficking routes and methods. The coalition is also pushing for increased resources for inspectors at ports and federal agencies to curb illegal firearms exports, the press release said.
