PAN and PRI Legislators approve foreign nationals to carry weapons in Mexico

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Proceso article

An American agent in Huitzilac, Morelos after an attack in August of 2012 see link to Chivis article on this incident

Jenaro Villamil and Eduardo Miranda

With only two votes, the majority of legislators of PAN and the PRI approved reforms to the Federal Law of Firearms and Explosives, to permit agents of customs and immigration from other countries and especially the United States to carry weapons in the country.

During the brief debate in commission, the Senators Alejandro Encinas and Manuel Bartlett argued against the amendments highlighting the lack of reciprocity in American Law and the risks to nationals.

"Its a submission to US interests which we are seeing here, its really ridiculous to hear these arguments and see this initiative, that in reality is about nothing". " There is no justification for arms, not one", accused Bartlett.





The PT Legislator insists that the reform is a requirement of the United States, and it is absurd not to openly discuss the issue, but we invent tourism and business that is going until the last.

In turn Senator Alejandro Encinas said that a reform of this nature will bring problems in its implementation with the area of local legislation. He mentioned the case of the Maricopa Sheriff, United States, of the existence of the Border Patrol opening fire on Mexican's or groups of hunters of migrants among others.

"Personally I think these modifications won't benefit tourism or trade, and to have customs and immigration agents of another country operating in national territory, regardless of whether their weapons leave the immigration of customs enclosures that they are operating", explained Encinas.

In defence of the reforms, the Pan Senator Hector Larios said that its not only for the United States, and yes in that country there is no reciprocity",  then we cannot apply to them". He insisted that article 28, the need for reciprocity is explicit.

The he defended the reforms, stating that "its absolutely relevant" especially in Migration and customs inspections. Weapons will be carried exclusively in the work place, and is not applicable to Mexican's, it is to check anyone who will board a plane in the case of an airport, to a destination in another country so that the immigration process is taken care of before you reach that country, argued Larios.

According to the Pan Legislator, this will benefit in an important manner the flow of passengers.

Cristina Diaz of the PRI, President of the Government Commission, cites Sedena to insist that it will be a "temporary possession of weapons", provided there is reciprocity. Permits will last six months and these foreign agents may only carry weapons used in their country of origin.

Diaz said that this reform is only for "accredited customs and immigration agents", and extends this right to diplomatic agents, so there is no risk that can distort the sense of initiative.

Original article in Spanish at Proceso

Categories: PAN, PRI