U.S. biggest source of illegal foreign guns in Brazil - report

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

JANUARY 10, 2018 / 1:37 PM / UPDATED 9 HOURS AGO
U.S. biggest source of illegal foreign guns in Brazil - report
Lisandra Paraguassu, Ricardo Brito


BRASILIA (Reuters) - The United States is the largest source of guns entering Brazil that end up in the hands of armed bandits and drug traffickers, according to a Brazilian Federal Police report seen by Reuters.

Roughly 1,500 guns originated in the United States out of a study of more than 10,000 arms seized by police since 2014, mostly in Rio de Janeiro, the December 2017 report said, although the guns often travelled through a third country before arriving in Brazil.

Guns from the United States tended to be assault rifles and higher caliber handguns, while guns already circulating in Brazil or arriving from other countries skewed toward smaller handguns.

“The US continues to be the largest indirect source of illegal handguns and assault rifles as a result of unrestricted sales in stores and fairs in American cities,” the report said.

Read more: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-brazil-arms/u-s-biggest-source-of-illegal-foreign-guns-in-brazil-report-idUKKBN1EZ2M3?rpc=401&

[burrowowl]

1. Why am not surprised?

and Mexico, etc.

[Midnight Writer]

2. Really. I wonder who is biggest supplier of LEGAL guns? Ferchissakes, even ISIS use our guns.

[SergeStorms]

3. The United States' largest export....

is death. Not only for wars, and "legal" arms sales to other countries, but the illegal smuggling of guns to Central and South America. Some will argue this point, but with a modicum of research it's quite clear. The gun manufacturers are so proud of their handiwork. Producing the instruments of death really pays off handsomely.

[EX500rider]

6. Actually it is petroleum products followed by cars.

America’s number 1 export is processed petroleum oils followed by cars, automotive parts and accessories, electronic integrated circuits then mobile phones.

http://www.worldstopexports.com/united-states-top-10-exports/

[SergeStorms]

7. Are the government's arms sales....

included in those numbers? Probably not.

[EX500rider]

8. Didn't even make top 10

Machinery including computers: US$190.5 billion (13.1% of total exports)
Electrical machinery, equipment: $167.2 billion (11.5%)
Aircraft, spacecraft: $134.6 billion (9.3%)
Vehicles : $124.3 billion (8.5%)
Mineral fuels including oil: $94.7 billion (6.5%)
Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $82.0 billion (5.6%)
Plastics, plastic articles: $58.4 billion (4.0%)
Gems, precious metals: $57.8 billion (4.0%)
Pharmaceuticals: $47.1 billion (3.2%)
Organic chemicals: $33.9 billion (2.3%)

The US hit $33.6 billion for foreign weapon sales in fiscal year 2016.

[SergeStorms]

9. As I said before.....

does this include government sales or is that weapons sale number only from the private sector? I'm guessing the latter since the federal government isn't really considered a business. Hey, who knows for sure, but $34 billion sounds a little on the light side considering all the surplus weapons the U.S owns. I'm sure private sector arms dealers could rack that much up with no problem.

[EX500rider]

10. The US govt does not sell new weapons systems.

They approve the sale by the companies that make them. The US can only sell used fighter planes, bombers, ships,etc that they already bought and own.

[SergeStorms]

11. Exactly...

but no one has yet to answer my question. Everyone keeps tap dancing around it, but as yet......no definitive answer.

[icymist]

4. Yup.

And now we have an administration which is arrogant and belligerent. What could go wrong?

[logosoco]

5. This is so sad and yet somehow not surprising.

And some folks think we need a wall at the Mexican border for OUR protection.