NEW YORK, United States (CMC) — New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition of 12 attorneys general calling on the United States Congress to take action to stop gun trafficking from the United States to Caribbean countries.

In their letter, the attorneys general say gun trafficking from the United States has contributed to gun violence in Caribbean countries, where many New Yorkers and Americans have families.

The coalition outlined a number of measures the US Congress can take to help reduce gun trafficking into the Caribbean, including ensuring inspectors at ports have enough resources to make inspections, and passing the Caribbean Arms Trafficking Causes Harm (CATCH) Act.

James said the CATCH Act would provide state and federal governments with more information about gun trafficking into the Caribbean and determine which anti-gun trafficking methods are working to reduce gun violence.

“American-made guns are flowing into Caribbean nations and communities and fuelling violence, chaos, and senseless tragedies throughout the region,” the New York attorney general told the
Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

“This issue hits especially close to home as many New Yorkers have family in Caribbean nations who are enduring dangerous conditions, partially because of easy access to dangerous weapons from our country.

“We have a responsibility to address this crisis, and that is why I am calling on Congress to take action to stop gun trafficking into Caribbean countries. When we tackle the gun violence crisis from every angle, we protect everyone,” she added.

In their letter, James and the coalition of attorneys general said the number of guns smuggled into the Caribbean from the United States has surged in recent years and contributes significantly to gun violence in those countries.

For instance, they pointed to a 2023 United Nations report that indicated that the United States has been a “principal source of firearms and munitions in Haiti”.

Additionally, the attorneys general wrote that, “[the] Jamaican security ministry estimates that at least 200 guns are trafficked from the United States into the country each month”.

They said that addressing the outbound flow of guns from the United States is, “a service to our constituents”, many of whom have ties to family and loved ones in the Caribbean, reiterating that passage of the CATCH Act would give both state and federal governments much-needed information about gun trafficking into Caribbean countries and anti-trafficking measures.

They are also asking Congress to take additional steps by ensuring that inspectors at American ports are given sufficient resources to inspect shipments being sent from the United States to countries in the Caribbean; and ensuring that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has sufficient funding to inspect federal firearms licensees that are responsible for a disproportionate number of firearms that are traced, after having been used in crimes in countries in the Caribbean.

The attorneys general are requesting briefings from United States Postal Service, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice about their ongoing efforts to interdict shipments of guns from the United States to countries in the Caribbean, with a focus on what additional resources and legal tools they need to accomplish this important task.

“I am appreciative of Attorney General James on these latest actions to stop gun trafficking from the US to Caribbean nations,” said US Representative Adriano Espaillat of Harlem, who introduced legislation in Congress to reauthorise funding for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), “which further strengthens our actions to combat crime and illicit drug trafficking, while supporting peace and stability to the region.

“I commend Attorney General James and each of the attorneys general for their ongoing, state-federal collaboration to stop the flow of gun trafficking between our nations,” added the Dominican Republic-born congressman.

New York State Senator Zellnor Y Myrie, who traces his roots to Jamaica, said “We’ve long known that firearms are being trafficked around the US, flooding our communities with deadly weapons, and putting our lives and safety at risk.

“I’m proud to have written the nation’s first law to hold bad actors in the gun industry liable for reckless conduct that allows this situation to occur, and honoured to stand with our attorney general as she leads the fight against gun trafficking from the US to Caribbean nations,” said the representative for the 20th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York.

Myrie’s Senate colleague Roxanne Persaud, the Guyanese-born representative for the 19th Senate District in Brooklyn, said “We cannot turn a blind eye to the devastating impact that gun trafficking from the United States is having on our Caribbean neighbors, and it is our duty to take action.

“The CATCH Act is a crucial step toward implementing effective measures to combat this crisis. I thank Attorney General James and the attorneys general for helping to protect communities both here and abroad from the scourge of gun violence.”

New York State Assembly member Phara Souffrant Forrest, the Haitian-American representative for the 57th Assembly District in Brooklyn, said “The unchecked flow of illegal guns from the United States into the Caribbean is fuelling violence and destabilising communities across the region.

“Congress must act now to pass comprehensive legislation to stop gun trafficking, and I applaud Attorney General James for her leadership on this issue. Our Caribbean neighbours deserve safety, stability, and the ability to thrive without the constant threat of gun violence — which we know all too well here at home.

“By strengthening enforcement, closing loopholes, and promoting regional cooperation we can protect lives on both sides of our borders and build a safer future for all,” Souffrant Forrest added.