Mexico - Firearms

Last year 123 U.S. citizens were arrested for bringing guns into Mexico, some just for having bullets in the car and no gun. Do not bring firearms or ammunition of any kind into Mexico, unless you have first obtained a consular firearms certificate from a Mexican consulate. To hunt in Mexico, you must obtain a hunting permit, also available from the consulate. Travelers carrying guns or ammunition into Mexico without a Mexican certificate have been arrested, detained and sentenced to stiff fines and lengthy prison terms. The sentence for clandestine importation of firearms is from six months to six years. If the weapon is greater than .38 caliber, it is considered to be a military type, and the sentence is from 5 to 30 years. In some areas of Mexico, it is not wise to carry anything that might be construed as a weapon. Some cities, such as Nuevo Laredo, have ordinances prohibiting the possession of knives and similar weapons. Tourists have even been arrested for possessing souvenir knives. Most arrests for knife possession occur in connection with some other infraction, such as drunk and disorderly behavior. Strangely enough, Mexicans are allowed to bring into the United States three weapons and a whopping 1000 rounds of ammo.

Ah Chi Wow Wa! What a Shot!

On November 11, 1998, a 68-year-old Swiss tourist, Ernest Schmidt, thought he'd get a little Real TV footage. It seems there was a robbery on the the Chihuahua-Pacific Railway, which runs through the scenic Copper Canyon. Los banditos forgot to bring their film agent and promptly shot Ernest three times in the chest and the head. Cut! That's a wrap.