Senator Dianne Feinstein wants to toughen U.S. gun laws to prevent violence in Mexico. Tanya Snyder reports.
At a Senate committee hearing Tuesday, Feinstein recounted a recent meeting she had with the Mexican ambassador to the U.S.
"I have never seen deeper concern on an ambassador's face," she said.
At the ambassador's urging, Feinstein sent letters last week to President Obama and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urging them to take action against illegal arms trafficking. More than ninety percent of the weapons seized by law enforcement in Mexico come from the United States.
"A return to the import ban on assault weapons in accordance with the 1968 gun control act would prohibit the importation of assault weapons not used for sporting purposes," said Feinstein.
Drug-related violence in Mexico claimed more than 7,000 lives since the beginning of last year. Law enforcement is worried about increasing kidnappings in Phoenix and San Diego as well.
From Capitol News Connection in Washington, I'm Tanya Snyder for KPBS News.
