Mexico – New York’s Ambition by Tom Reynolds
You are probably aware of the wide spread drug cartel related violence occurring in Mexico.
Mexican drug cartel boss ‘El Mencho’ was killed in an attempt to capture him. In the aftermath, it is reported that 25 members of the Mexican National Guard have been killed as well as 30 cartel members. Another 20 people have reportedly been killed – so far - but with no designation so, presumably, they are civilians.
More than 1,000 people were stuck overnight in Guadalajara’s zoo, where they slept in buses. The zoo sheltered them because many had been trapped when violence broke out in the surrounding states. (I wonder if the Zoo had armed guards or if those sheltering just waited to become defenseless victims, much like Americans in our gun-free zones.)
American embassy workers and American tourists were advised to ‘shelter in place.’
In gun violence cases in the USA, the media and the Democrat’s leadership are quick to call for more gun control. That is not happening with Mexico. Why?
In 2024, CBS News reported that “Drug-related violence has seen more than 480,000 people killed in Mexico since the government deployed the army to combat trafficking in 2006.”*
In 2024, the AP reported that then Mexican President Obrador had a policy of not confronting the cartels and encouraged local people to seek out peace pacts with the gangs.** (Sounds like Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’ attitude towards fraud schemes by criminal aliens.) Four Roman Catholic bishops met with Mexican drug cartel bosses in a bid to negotiate a possible peace accord between drug cartels and President Obrador said he approved of such talks.
Could silence on the gun grabbing Left, in the face of so much violence, be because Mexico already has strict gun control? So, what is gun control like in Mexico?
Mexico is what Kathy Hochul and the Democrat leadership envision for New York State. Mexico is already doing what Hochul and company want done in New York and the results are a disaster.
Article 10 of the Mexican Constitution allows inhabitants to keep firearms in their homes for safety and self-defense. (Not quite the USA’s 2nd Amendment but, like Hochul, the Mexican government tries to ignore their constitution.)
The Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) maintains exclusive control over Mexican firearm sales and registration. (The equivalent of the ATF?)
If one wants to legally get a gun in Mexico, the process is lengthy, bureaucratic, and requires demonstrating a legitimate need for the firearm. Applicants face stringent background checks, psychological evaluations, and must prove safe storage. (In NYS, Democrat sponsored bills want to require psychological exams. Try getting a permit in NY City or other major cities in the USA; think in terms of years.)
And if you can work your way through the bureaucratic roadblocks, the only legal gun store in Mexico is located in Mexico City and operated by SEDENA. (Imagine if the only gun store in NY State was in downtown New York City? Inconvenient doesn’t begin to cover it! And I’ll bet against those SEDENA employees in the gun store being customer oriented. Something similar was the goal of the ATF under Joe Biden, who was committed to shutting down legal retail stores to make it difficult to buy a gun store, legally.)
For protecting a home, officials generally allow short firearms like pistols or revolvers in calibers up to .380 or .38 Special. Other weapons, such as .22 caliber rifles and various shotguns, are typically authorized for protecting rural land or for use in hunting clubs. (NY State currently has proposed bills limiting calibers and types of guns that civilians may own. NY’s legislature aspires to be Mexico!)
Having a permit to own a gun for home protection does not automatically allow you to carry it in public. Federal law distinguishes between keeping a gun in your home and carrying or transporting it. (Much like what the gun grabbing left wanted before the Heller, McDonald and Bruen cases restored ‘keep and bear arms’ to its proper status.)
Public carry firearms licenses are difficult to obtain and are only issued to individuals who:
- are mentally and physically capable (The NY Legislature has proposed bills requiring a mental exam to get a permit)
- demonstrate a need to carry arms (What used to be called ‘May Issue’ in NY State before Heller, McDonald and Bruen)
- provide proof of employment
- do not have a criminal record
Individuals must renew their license every two years. (Something for Hochul to aspire to since pistol permits in NYS must be are renewed every three years.)
Mexican citizens cannot own an AR-15 which is considered military-style weapons (Assault weapons to the Left) and are strictly prohibited for civilian ownership. (Kathy Hochul’s and the Democrat leadership’s dream.)
Penalties for illegal firearms are severe. (The same as penalties in NY State, unless you are an illegal alien, in which case NYS offers you sanctuary status, instead.)
Per MEXLAW.com, Mexico’s legal gun stores sold 52,147 firearms between 2009 and 2014. Wow! In spite of all the restrictions, drug cartels are able to illegally arm their ‘employees’ with ‘military style firearms’ while law abiding Mexican citizens only bought about 9,000 each year.***
Any reasonable analysis would define Mexico’s gun control laws as failures.
Perhaps Mexico should adopt NY City’s Mayor Mamdani’s approach and have social workers talk to the drug cartels and persuade them to tone down the violence.
*5 women, 3 men shot dead in the street in Mexican cartel stronghold - CBS News
**Mexico's most dangerous city for police refuses to give up or negotiate with cartels | AP News
***During the Biden administration, 1 million guns were sold every year in the USA.
