Final answer:
Although Mexico has strict gun control laws, its high gun murder rate is influenced by powerful drug cartels and significant firearms trafficking from the U.S. These factors, combined with internal conflict and the illegal arms trade, contribute to Mexico's violence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The claim mentioned in the question regarding Mexico's gun murder rate compared to the United States can be addressed by analyzing various social and political factors influencing crime rates, especially those related to drug cartels and illegal arms trade. While Mexico has strict gun control laws, the influence of drug cartels and the crime associated with them have widely contributed to high rates of gun-related murders. Many of these cartels have infiltrated aspects of the government, police, and military, which has made it difficult to combat the illegal drug trade and associated violence.
In addition to internal conflict, the increased firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexico has contributed to the violence seen in Mexican cities, particularly those near the US border. Since declaring war on the drug cartels in 2006, Mexico has seen an upsurge in drug and cartel-related homicides, amounting to over 360,000 reported cases. The United States, on the other hand, has seen many debates about gun control, sparked by school shootings and other incidents of mass violence, as well as discussions around the Second Amendment and public safety.
Furthermore, as the illegal arms trade remains prevalent in certain world regions, including the Americas, the impact on homicide rates cannot be overlooked. The illegal arms trade has influenced the rise in violence not only in Mexico but also in other countries with high volumes of illegal arms.