In a major sting operation lead by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, more than a dozen members of a gun conspiracy ring have been arrested. The gun-buying ring was found to be operating along the Texas/Mexico border. Drug cartel members in the Gulf region are not always able to access the types of automatic and semi-automatic weapons that they want. In order to obtain the latest and greatest in firepower, they turn to American citizens with clean criminal records to purchase the weapons for them.

After purchasing the various rifles in sporting good stores on the American side, the weapons are then smuggled across the border and sold for high prices. The initial mark up in price is seemingly worth the risk for some individuals to participate in such acts.

The gunrunning ring crackdown is just one of the numerous examples that help thwart the notion that the Mexican side of the border is to blame for all the crime and violence. When cartel members are using American guns to commit crimes it creates a certain amount of responsibility on the American side of the border. And although America is not directly responsible for the gun violence in Mexico, there is a correlation between guns going into Mexico and drugs coming into America.

Aside from AR-15's and AK-47 variants, cartel members are also getting ahold of heavy-duty artillery that gives them an equal fighting chance against Mexican police forces. Rocket launchers and grenades have also been found being shipped into Mexico, which is extremely disturbing news.

ATF largely understands that the relationship is a two way street between the United States and Mexico along the border. It has always been a symbiotic relationship, in which supply and demand largely influences what comes in and what goes out.

The penalties for smuggling guns across the border are harsh and if the suspects are convicted in the ATF's case, they will face serious prison time. Some members of the gunrunning ring remain at large, but the ATF contends that they will eventually be caught and prosecuted as soon as new leads surface.