The debate over U.S. gun laws and Mexican drug violence brings to mind Mark Twain's famous quip about lies, damned lies, and statistics. In a recent editorial, the Washington Post blamed American policies for exacerbating the bloodshed, pointing out that "70 to 80 percent of the traceable guns seized in Mexico can be tracked to the United States." The key word there is "traceable." While it's true that most of the traceable guns originated north of the border, those weapons represent a very small portion of total Mexican gun seizures.
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