[Lightsped]

What are the gun laws in Mexico? Do they have the 10 round mag capacity limit? What guns in Mexico are banned?

[mattd]

Mexico has laws?

[Lennyjoe]

I dont know the specifics on what you can own or have but I know one thing.

Whenever we go to Mexico weather it be by walking in or driving you better not have anything that resembles a gun or even an empty casing on your person or in your vehicle.

Have had an Air Force guy get detained and put in a Mexican jail because they found a loose .22 round in the back of his SUV. Guess he was out shooting the week before and a round rolled loose and he didnt see it when he emptied his vehicle. He eventually got out but was a big hassle and from what I hear you dont want any part of being in a Mexican Jailhouse.

Bottom line is if your going on a hunt in Mexico either use the guns they have or the guide needs to do all the paperwork for you. Rumor has it that you cant go hunting in Mexico unless you have a guide.

Im sure more folks here know more than me on this matter so more to follow Im sure.

[CleverNickname]

From what I understand, a little mordida (or more likely a lot in the case of firearms) can go a long way in making things legal. Of course, I have no personal experience in this area. You wouldn't catch me dead in Mexico.

[XenaduKhan]

You must absolutely positively do anything in your power to bribe the mexican officials, and the closer to the US border you are the more it is gonna cost. (a ticket in Monterrey will cost ya $5-$10 to bribe the cop. Near the border, more like $200.)

However, you must do this without outright bribery or being insulting.

It is a fine art, one which I am not master at, and thusly I have no desire to visit Mexico again anytime soon.

[a9mmfan]

I was taking our foreign exchange student across to visit Mexico at Big Bend National Park. (Ojinaga I believe). I knew that they were strict about firemarms so I did a pretty thorough look for "LIVE" ammo, and left the Sig in the hotel safe. I made two errors. When I saw the spent 9 mm casing in the bed of the truck, I blew it off as a "So casings are not illegal". I also failed to find 1 single 9 mm live round that had fallen between my seat and the console at some time. The spent round in the bed fueled their determination to find something. The live round cost me $800.00 and two nights in a Mexican jail. My Ukrainian foreign student had lost interest in Mexico by the time I got out of jail.

[Standing Wolf]

Considering the number of Mexicans who live here illegally, why bother travelling all that distance?

[Joe Demko]

I used to live in Laredo, TX and spent a fairish amount of time "across." Mexican police are intimidating and they do have a reputation for being bent, especially along the border. I'd like to qualify that by saying that the border towns act as magnets for the worst from both nations. Laredo isn't much more of a picnic than Nuevo Laredo.
The first thing to remember if you get in trouble in Mexico is that the gummint of the US is going to do nothing whatsoever to help you. When you are in Mexico you are subject Mexican law, no matter how goofy or unfair it may seem to you. Your best bet is to try to make contact with family back in the US who, by paying the appropriate fines and/or mordidas may be able to extract you from Mexican jail.
I won't say that you shouldn't visit Mexico, as the people are. in general, very nice, the food is good, and the country is awash in historical antiquities. Just keep in mind that you aren't in the US and that their po-po aren't going to be overawed by you bellowing "I am a US citizen!"
Probably the best way to handle hunting in Mexico is to book your hunt through an established guide who can also supply you with a gun.

[jrhead75]

IIRC, there was a recent case where an FFL accidently left some boxes of live ammo in his trunk and was nailed by the Mexicans for "smuggling"...a felony. He spent some jail time, and last I heard, was jumping through all kinds of BATF hoops (without much luck) to try to get his license AND his right to own firearms back.

From everything I've read, they're mighty touchy about gringos bringing weaponry in.

[einnor1040]

I remember reading somewhere that any handguns chambered for military rounds were illegal. That's why the 38super was so popular there. But as far as hunting laws, I don't have a clue. I've been to Mexico 3 times and I care nothing about ever going back.

[CWL]

Don't know about the laws, but I was lent a pistol once while in Mexico City on business back in 2000-2001. It was a G19 with full cap magazines. This was right after our country manager was kidnapped and killed. (kidnapping, quite a growth industry in 3rd world nations) Then and while working for another company, we always travelled with armed escorts who carried a variety of pistolas. Depending on why you are there and who you are doing business with, probably makes a great deal of difference to the local constabulary.

Know an American emigre to Mexico, runs a fishing/smoker operation at a seaside resort. They all treat him as a local, he keeps a shotgun around, and no one seems to care.

Back in mispent college days, we went to Baja whenever possible, if you don't act obnoxious and treat the locals and policia with respect, they'll probably leave you alone. Plenty of "Do You Know I'm an American!!" types for them to bag.

[Justin]

Moving to L&P

[TamThompson]

I have heard from experienced visitors that the thing to do, if caught with an illegal firearm within Mexico, is to ask politely if there is a fine for what you have done. This opens the door to them accepting a bribe.

I fail to see why they're so uptight over gringos bringing in guns for self-defense. Surely they must know their country is riddled with indigenous banditos. I would not travel in Mexico without a reasonably high-powered handgun, and a back-up gun (with lots of ammo for each.)

So, I don't go and they don't get my tourist dollars--Texas does. :)

[shooten]

I just got this from David Kopel's latest article:

"The only other nation with a right to arms in its constitution is Mexico. As stated in Article 10: "The inhabitants of the United Mexican States have the right to possess arms in their homes for their security and legitimate defense with the exception of those prohibited by federal law and of those reserved for the exclusive use of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Guard. Federal law shall determine the cases, conditions and place in which the inhabitants may be authorized to bear arms."

The Mexican constitutional provision may create some rights consciousness in that nation, although the effect is undoubtedly diminished by the general cynicism about the law, and the lack of respect given most constitutional rights in that nation.


Here's the link.

http://www.worldandi.com/newhome/public/2003/october/cipub.asp

Scott

[makarov1]

I know an American family living near Culiacan in the Western State of Sinaloa. I went there to visit them twice, both times in the late 90's. The father, a pastor of a Baptist church grew up in SE PA and was an avid deer hunter. The Pastor made a comment that the Mexican Govt. uses gun ownership as just a revenue generating scam, with all the taxes and fees. This makes it all but impossible for the "unwashed masses" to afford the luxury of gun ownership in a country with high levels of violent crime.

The other angle is that the government does not trust an armed citizenry. There have been violent uprisings in the southern state of Chiapas as recently as 1999. After driving thousands of miles across Mexican Highways, (cuotas) state routes (libres), I can say with a fair amount of certainty that Mexico is a very dangerous country. I will probably never go back, as I don't feel comfortable being unarmed in what's esentially a third-world country. Even though the average Mexican is not as poor as most of us think, the violence in large Mexican cities rivals and exceeds ( no matter what Mexican murder rates suggest ) crime ridden cities like D.C.

The D.F. (Distrito Federal) has the distinction as being Mexico's most crime ridden city, and I never felt safe there, even in my twenties. Stopping at a light with real Mexican gang bangers eyeing your rental is a scary experience, an experience I don't wish to repeat unless I am well-armed. Since in Mexico, that's not much of an option, I have no plans to return.