To the Editor:

Re “Hypocrisy, Locked and Loaded” (editorial, June 21):

While I agree that Congress should reinstate the assault-weapons ban and close the gun-show loophole, I am not optimistic that the House will do this. There are, however, steps that the administration can take without any new legislation that will slow the illegal flow of weapons to Mexico, in particular enforcing a ban on imported military-style weapons.

More and more cheap AK-47 “knockoffs” imported into the United States have been smuggled into Mexico and are contributing to the lethal violence south of the border. We can do something about this.

The Gun Control Act of 1968 authorized the United States government to prohibit the importation of firearms and ammunition not “particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.” While I support the right of American citizens to own firearms for legal purposes, there is nothing sporting about AK-47s, which are military-style weapons.

The ban on assault-weapons imports was first enforced by President George H. W. Bush and strengthened by President Bill Clinton before it was abandoned by President George W. Bush. President Obama can and should return to full enforcement of this law without delay. This will not only slow the illegal flow of firearms to Mexico, but it will also make us safer here in the United States.