At first glance, comparing the number of taquerías in Mexico to the number of gun shops in the United States might seem like a pointless exercise—after all, who would be surprised that Mexico’s 140,000 taco stands outnumber the U.S.’s 80,000 gun dealers?
That's TACO POWER!
Yet, Mexico City data journalist Baruch González has gone and crafted a visualization that is as thought-provoking as it is playful.
Inspired by the current political tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, where tariff wars overshadow the role of American firearms in cartel violence or Americans' obsession with Mexican fentanyl, González’s work highlights two realities: Mexico’s vibrant culinary culture, anchored by tortillas, and embodied by the beloved taco, and the widespread accessibility of guns in the U.S., particularly near the border.
Drawing from official data sources, his graphic underscores a stark contrast between cultural richness and the sobering reality of gun proliferation.