MEXICO CITY — More than 54,000 Mexicans have signed a petition calling on the United States to take further steps to combat weapons trafficking.

Mexico says the majority of guns used by the country’s violent drug cartels are smuggled over the border from the United States.

Mexico’s best-known anti-violence activist and a prominent intellectual presented the petition at the U.S. embassy Monday.

Activist Javier Sicilia said “The United States is partly responsible for our humanitarian tragedy.”

About 70,000 people have died in Mexico in drug violence since 2006, according to the written copy of a speech presented by Mexico’s interior secretary in December.

Before the activists presented their petition, President Barack Obama said Monday he would present a new U.S. gun control plan within days.