In a significant move, Mexico's government has reinforced its stance on firearm control. This Thursday, President Claudia Sheinbaum issued a decree in the Federal Official Gazette, amending over a hundred articles of the Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives. The decree forbids and penalizes the possession of weapons reserved for the Armed Forces and those crafted using 3D printing or artisanal methods.

The new regulations also include restrictions on private armored vehicles equipped for weapon use. Additionally, there are strict limitations on tactical accessories like thermal sights, lasers, or night vision goggles unless they are linked to hunting or sporting activities.

Furthermore, the decree specifies that the National Defense Secretariat (Sedena) has the authority to permit the use of arms, ammunition, and materials explicitly intended for warfare, based on a justified necessity, either individually or corporately.

With the rise of 3D printing technology, the manufacture of weapons using these methods, which some criminal organizations have exploited, is now prohibited. The reform bans the possession, transportation, usage, or creation of tools, accessories, or devices aimed at converting semi-automatic weapons into automatic ones, including those made through 3D printing or artisanal techniques. This includes night vision equipment, laser designators, holographic or thermal sights, and any accessories enhancing weapon effectiveness in illegal activities, apart from recreational hunting or shooting.

Finally, Claudia Sheinbaum's administration is pushing for educational and disarmament campaigns. The decree emphasizes that the Federal Executive Power, state governments, municipalities, and Mexico City's boroughs must conduct ongoing educational campaigns promoting peace and disarmament to reduce the possession, protection, and use of any type of arms.