The Duality of Gun Ownership in Mexico: A Glimpse into the Nation's Legal Shops

Gun ownership in Mexico is a constitutional right, yet only two highly regulated military-run stores exist for legal purchases. Shoppers traverse long distances, enduring bureaucratic hurdles reflecting the nation’s struggle against black market violence.

In a nation rife with gun violence and a prolific black market, Mexico's legal framework for firearms is complex. The constitution affords citizens the right to own guns; however, they can only be legally acquired at two military-run stores in the country, both of which are closely supervised. For many, purchasing a firearm involves navigating through a maze of bureaucracy, waiting months for approvals, and often traveling long distances.

Eduardo Ignacio García Zavala, for instance, waited three months for his paperwork to be processed before embarking on a lengthy drive to Mexico City for a precision rifle. Customers routinely make exhausting journeys—some traveling over eight hours to obtain a handgun. These stores, which resemble a mix of a small museum and a government office, are incredibly popular among private security personnel, sport shooters, and others who see gun ownership as essential in a dangerous environment.

The challenges of obtaining firearms legally in Mexico are illustrated by the experience of Cristian Ulices Ocaranza Marquez, a municipal police officer from Colima, which has one of the highest homicide rates in the nation. Along with six other officers, he rented a van to travel to the capital for handguns. After enduring a lengthy approval process, he paid $518 for a handgun—a significant expense considering the average monthly salary in Mexico is about $320.

These singular stores symbolize the frustrating contradiction of gun rights in Mexico: while there's a recognized constitutional right to gun ownership, the reality is that legal channels are limited, tightly regulated, and inundated with red tape, providing a stark contrast to the illegal arms trade flourishing in the shadows of society.