Mexico

[Carrots]

Does anyone know what the legalities are of taking a pistol on a trip to Mexico? Can I take it? Does it need to stay in either my vehicle / hotel ? Can I carry it?

Thanks folks

[carlson1]

Does anyone know what the legalities are of taking a pistol on a trip to Mexico? Can I take it? Does it need to stay in either my vehicle / hotel ? Can I carry it?

Thanks folks

You cannot even carry AMMO into Mexico. You will go to Prison. No firearms aloud.

Did you mean New Mexico?

[Carrots]

Ok, well thats pretty clear cut then. Perhaps I'll take my 'olidays in NEW Mexico instead . Thank you

[stash]

Carrots - do visit NM - it is a beautiful state, especially if you like outdoor stuff. Might want to wait 'till Spring - kinda cold in most parts of the state now.

[WildBill]

Does anyone know what the legalities are of taking a pistol on a trip to Mexico? Can I take it? Does it need to stay in either my vehicle / hotel ? Can I carry it?

Thanks folks

As other folks have said, "NO". I just want to reiterate that this applies to all firearms: handguns, long guns and shotguns. If you are going to Mexico don't bring ammunition or even an empty casing in your vehicle or on your person. If you do you will go to jail.

[Revet]

There was a recent instance in which an American soldier was thrown into a Mexican prison because he'd forgotten that one of his firearms was still in the trunk of his car. I don't know how or if that was resolved.

Not to hammer this issue into the ground, but here's what the U.S. state department says:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
For Immediate Release
July 21, 1999

Many U.S. citizens may be planning to take a trip to Mexico during this busy summer travel season. The Department of State wishes to alert gun owners to leave their guns at home when they go to Mexico. Mexico has severe penalties for taking in any type of firearm, weapon, or ammunition without first obtaining written authorization from Mexican authorities. It does not matter whether U.S. citizens are licensed to carry the firearm in the United States, or if they unintentionally transport it while driving in their vehicle, or have it in their luggage while traveling by commercial or private plane or boat. It also does not matter if visitors to Mexico are U.S. law enforcement or military officials. Mexican authorities strictly enforce laws restricting the entry of firearms and ammunition along their borders and at air or seaports.

Each year dozens of Americans are arrested or fined in Mexico in connection with weapons violations. About 35 U.S. citizens are currently incarcerated in Mexican prisons on weapons-related charges. Many of them inadvertently transported a firearm that they were licensed to carry in the United States without realizing they were violating Mexican laws. Some were driving across the border for a day visit, to shop or to eat in a restaurant. Remember that if caught bringing in a firearm, ammunition, or other weapon, Mexican authorities may confiscate a visitor''s vehicle or other personal property and place the individual under arrest. Detained Americans may spend months in pre-trial detention while their case is being investigated. If convicted, they may face several years in a Mexican prison. While the U.S. consul can visit U.S. citizens in jail, make sure that they are being treated humanely, and provide a list of attorneys to assist with the Mexican judicial process, the U.S. consul cannot get U.S. citizens released from jail.

U.S. citizens who approach Mexico along the land border or who arrive by boat should check carefully to ensure that someone else has not left weapons or ammunition in the vehicle or boat. If U.S. citizen visitors realize they are in possession of firearms, ammunition, or other weapons, they should not proceed into Mexico. They should not attempt to enter Mexico - even to turn around - or go through Mexican Customs. All land border crossings have pull-offs or turnarounds on the U.S. side. The only way to legally import firearms and ammunition into Mexico is to secure a permit in advance from the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C. or from a Mexican Consulate in the United States. Mariners who have obtained a Mexican firearm permit should contact Mexican port officials before attempting to enter Mexican waters, to learn about specific procedures to report and secure weapons and ammunition.

[Lodge2004]

There was a recent instance in which an American soldier was thrown into a Mexican prison because he'd forgotten that one of his firearms was still in the trunk of his car. I don't know how or if that was resolved.

Not to hammer this issue into the ground, but here's what the U.S. state department says:

With severe restrictions such as those, I'd guess Mexico has virtually no crime except for petty theft and white collar stuff.

[Carrots]

Thank you all very much, I am very glad that I checked. Of all of the places where I expected tough rules Mexico was very close to the bottom

[Revet]

There was a recent instance in which an American soldier was thrown into a Mexican prison because he'd forgotten that one of his firearms was still in the trunk of his car. I don't know how or if that was resolved.

Not to hammer this issue into the ground, but here's what the U.S. state department says:

With severe restrictions such as those, I'd guess Mexico has virtually no crime except for petty theft and white collar stuff.

Mexico has the 6th highest murder rate in the world (of course they partly blame this on us). The 10 countries with the highest murder rates all have highly restrictive firearms laws--a detail that is always overlooked by the antis.

[TheArmedFarmer]

This is a common sight in Mexico:



I took that photo in 2005 on a stretch of highway in a fairly empty area.

And my experience has been that they can stop you for whatever reason they wish, ask questions and look through your car. The only way I would bring a firearm into Mexico is if I welded a compartment into a secret area of the vehicle, and even then that's iffy.

[The Annoyed Man]

Does anyone know what the legalities are of taking a pistol on a trip to Mexico? Can I take it? Does it need to stay in either my vehicle / hotel ? Can I carry it?

Thanks folks

You cannot even carry AMMO into Mexico. You will go to Prison. No firearms aloud.

Did you mean New Mexico?

There must be some exceptions to that for hunting, because one of the guys in my Bible study gets invited periodically by a pastor he works with in Mexico to go bear hunting down there - and he brings his .270 along for the ride. Perhaps there is a procedure for legally bringing in a personally owned hunting rifle if all the right paperwork is filled out.

[ProudNativeTexican]

I know several people that hunt down there regularly. They used to take their guns back and forth but most now have given their friends ins Mexico their gun as a gift and just use it when they want to hunt.

[txflyer]

There must be some exceptions to that for hunting, because one of the guys in my Bible study gets invited periodically by a pastor he works with in Mexico to go bear hunting down there - and he brings his .270 along for the ride. Perhaps there is a procedure for legally bringing in a personally owned hunting rifle if all the right paperwork is filled out.

This place has some info: http://www.mexonline.com/huntmex.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It appears you get a hunting license (cost 450) and it includes a gun permit and you have to have a licensed guide.

[Liberty]

There must be some exceptions to that for hunting, because one of the guys in my Bible study gets invited periodically by a pastor he works with in Mexico to go bear hunting down there - and he brings his .270 along for the ride. Perhaps there is a procedure for legally bringing in a personally owned hunting rifle if all the right paperwork is filled out.

This place has some info: http://www.mexonline.com/huntmex.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It appears you get a hunting license (cost 450) and it includes a gun permit and you have to have a licensed guide.

That gun can't be of a military caliber... Whatever that means.

[anygunanywhere]

This is a common sight in Mexico:



I took that photo in 2005 on a stretch of highway in a fairly empty area.

And my experience has been that they can stop you for whatever reason they wish, ask questions and look through your car. The only way I would bring a firearm into Mexico is if I welded a compartment into a secret area of the vehicle, and even then that's iffy.

I worked in Mexico for several months in 2007 in the state of Tabasco which borders on Belize and Guatemala.

The governor of Tabasco attended a business conference at the Hilton I was staying in.

He travels with two platoons of soldiers armed with the typical loadout of weapons up to heavy machine guns.

Enough said.

Anygunanywhere