Phoenix ? The drug war in Mexico shouldn’t be used as an excuse to try to restrict American gun rights, Sen. John McCain said Friday at the National Rifle Association’s convention.

The Arizona Republican and former presidential candidate told thousands of people in Phoenix that the United States needs to do more to crack down on gun smuggling into Mexico, but that such assistance in Mexico’s war against drug cartels doesn’t require restrictions on the gun rights of law-abiding Americans.

“It should be noted that any effort to restrict gun ownership in the U.S. will not stop Mexican cartels from acquiring guns and ammunition from other countries,” McCain said. He added that cartels are already getting grenades and other weapons from other countries.

McCain said the cartels threaten the security of the United States because America doesn’t have a secure southern border and has a big appetite for illegal drugs from Mexico. Kidnappings tied to drug and immigrant smuggling have earned Phoenix the title of America’s kidnapping capital.