ENDANGERING FAMILIES

As a former Montana resident now serving as a missionary in Mexico,
I'm very concerned by the actions of Rep. Denny Rehberg that
facilitate the ability of drug cartels to acquire assault rifles
(including AK-47s) in the United States.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF) proposed
that gun dealers report the sale of two or more semi-automatic rifles
to the same buyer within five days - an attempt to reduce the flow of
guns from the U.S. coming into Mexico. Rehberg responded by sponsoring
an amendment (passed by the House on Feb. 18) that prohibited the ATF
from using federal money for that purpose.

The drug cartels purchase assault rifles at gun stores in Arizona and
Texas, and then use them to murder people in Mexico. More than 34,000
people have been killed in drug-

related violence in Mexico, and more than 65,000 guns recovered in the
country have been traced back to the U.S.

I'm working with the Home of Hope and Peace community center in
Nogales, Sonora, on the border with Arizona. The actions of Rehberg
ensure his support from the National Rifle Association while putting
at risk the lives of the families served by our center.

Scott Nicholson

Nogales, Sonora

Mexico