Fragmented Firearms: Mexico's Duality with Gun Ownership

In Mexico, despite a constitutional right to bear arms, gun ownership is heavily regulated with only two military-operated stores available, revealing a national struggle with firearms.

Eduardo Ignacio García Zavala endured a three-month wait to get the necessary paperwork and undertook a long journey to Mexico City to purchase a precision rifle. With only two legal gun shops operating under strict military oversight, these establishments have become central to the ongoing dialogue regarding firearms in Mexico, where illegal weapons dominate the market.

Potential gun buyers traverse great distances—some travel two hours for ammunition, while police officers rent vans for lengthy expeditions to acquire handguns. A corporate employee made a particularly grueling nine-hour drive for a precision rifle. These two stores, although legal, reflect a paradox in a nation grappling with escalating violence and a significant number of firearms in civilian possession.

Mexican law supports personal gun ownership, yet the government has enacted tight restrictions on sales. The two authorized military stores symbolize the authorities' aim to impose better regulation over a country besieged by violence and a proliferation of illegally obtained American-made firearms.

Customers, including private security firms and sport-shooting enthusiasts, navigate significant bureaucratic hurdles. A small museum-like atmosphere greets applicants who must provide extensive documentation and undergo a wait time for approval before they can buy a firearm.

Cristian Ulices Ocaranza Marquez, a police officer from Colima—a state notorious for its high homicide rates—shared his experience of making an eight-hour trip with fellow officers to procure firearms. In a move to comply with the restrictions that prevent him from housing his duty weapon at home, he paid $518 for a handgun after a lengthy approval process, highlighting the financial burden amidst an average income of approximately $320 a month.