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Gun politics in Mexico covers the role firearms play as part of society within the limits of the United Mexican States. Current legislation sets the legality by which members of the armed forces, law enforcement and private citizens may acquire, own, possess and carry firearms; covering rights and limitations to individuals—including hunting and shooting sport participants, property and personal protection personnel such as bodyguards, security officers, private security, and extending to VIPs (diplomats, public officials, celebrities). A common misconception is that firearms are illegal in Mexico and that no person may possess them. This belief originates due the general perception that only members of law enforcement, the armed forces, or those in armed security protection are authorized to have them. While it is true that Mexico possesses strict gun laws, where most types and calibers are reserved to military and law enforcement, the acquisition and ownership of certain firearms and ammunition remains a constitutional right to all Mexican citizens and foreign legal residents; given the requirements and conditions to exercise such right are fulfilled in accordance to the law. The right to keep and bear arms was first recognized as a constitutional right under Article 10 of the Mexican Constitution of 1857. However, as part of the Mexican Constitution of 1917, Article 10 was changed where-by the ''right to keep and bear arms'' was given two separate definitions: the right to keep (''derecho a poseer'' in Spanish) and the right to bear (''derecho a portar'' in Spanish). The new version of Article 10 specified that citizens were entitled to ''keep arms'' (own them) but may only ''bear them'' (carry them) among the population in accordance to police regulation. This modification to Article 10 also introduced the so-called ''...() for exclusive use of the ()... ''(in Spanish: ''...de uso exclusivo del Ejército...''), dictating that the law would stipulate which weapons were reserved for the armed forces, including law enforcement agencies, for being considered ''weapons of war''. In 1971, Article 10 of the present Constitution was reformed to limit the ''right to keep arms'' within the home only (in Spanish: ...''derecho a poseer armas en su domicilio''...) and reserved the ''right to bear arms'' outside the home only to those explicitly authorized by law (i.e. police, military, armed security officers). The following year, the Federal Law of Firearms and Explosives came into force and gave the federal government complete jurisdiction and control to the legal proliferation of firearms in the country; at the same time, heavily limiting and restricting the legal access to firearms by civilians. As a result of the changes to Article 10 of the Mexican Constitution and the enactment of the Federal Law of Firearms and Explosives, openly carrying a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon in public is virtually forbidden to private citizens, unless explicitly authorized by the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA). For purposes of personal protection, firearms are only permitted within the place of residence and of the type and caliber permitted by law. ==History== Contemporary Mexican society experiences gun homicide at a higher rate than many other nations.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Countries Compared by Crime > Gun violence > Homicides > Firearm homicide rate > Per 100,000 pop.. International Statistics at NationMaster.com )〕 Firearms have played a significant role in the History of Mexico and the country was founded with a strong presence and adhesion to arms. Mexican Golden Age films often depicted the protagonists and antagonists as gun-slinging cowboys and charros, an example of a cultural attachment to guns that was shared in both sides of the border. It was through the means of armed combat that Mexico achieved its independence from Spain. From then on, the course of history was marked by several armed conflicts, including the American (1846–48) and French (1861–67) conflicts, as well as indigenous struggles due to the several forms of government that ruled over Mexican territory, culminating with the Mexican Revolution (1910–20) and the Cristero War (1926–29). During the first half of the 20th century, a prevalent culture of guns was well present in Mexico. While regulation and conditions for the lawful ownership and possession of firearms existed, guns remained a household item, to the point that foreigners would travel to Mexico to engage in hunting and target shooting activities, including the popular silhouette shooting game that originated in Mexico. By the 1960s, fear of the growing anti-government sentiment and the growing number of citizens arming themselves, prompted the government to modify Article 10 of the Constitution and to enact the Federal Law of Firearms and Explosives. And so begun a systematic disarmament of the population by limiting gun ownership to small-caliber handguns, heavily restricting the right to carry outside the home, and ending a cultural attachment to firearms by shutting down gun stores, outlawing the private sale of firearms, closing down public shooting facilities, and putting in control the federal government of all firearm-related matters. This swift change resulting in sweeping powers over gun control were the result of the strong presidentialism that has traditionally marked Mexican politics, giving the sitting president control and cooperation of Congress to change present laws or enact new laws. The government defended the constitutional reform and new federal law by expressing that there was a time where the government could not guarantee the security of its subjects and therefore citizens were allowed to arm themselves to look after their own safety but given that the government was now able to deliver justice, it was time that the use of force be reserved to the government in order to preserve due process and the rule of law. In addition, the government has conducted gun-exchange programs from time-to-time, where citizens are encouraged to exchange any firearm (registered, unregistered, legal or illegal) for either a cash incentive or groceries, without fear of civil or criminal prosecution. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Gun politics in Mexico」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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