"The firepower wielded by organised crime groups in Mexico has not only led to mounting instability in the US's southern neighbour, but also contributed to lawlessness on the two countries' shared border and the deaths of American agents. As the U.S. invests millions in Mexico's security through the Merida initiative, it does itself a disservice by allowing lax gun regulation to arm the same groups it is trying to combat. Poor gun regulation and oversight also threatens the U.S. by providing potential terrorists with easy access to military grade weapons, as was boasted by American-born al-Qaida member Adam Gadahn in a recent video."