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-Editorial
The Baja California State Congress has approved a legislative initiative aimed at reinforcing firearm control mechanisms across Mexico. The proposal, presented by Assemblywoman Araceli Geraldo Núñez, seeks to require individuals to prove the legal origin and acquisition of any firearm at the time of registration.
The measure was approved unanimously during a regular session of the State Congress, with 20 votes in favor, none against, and no abstentions. It forms part of Dictamen No. 5 from the Citizen Security and Civil Protection Committee, which recommends submitting the initiative to the Mexican Congress for consideration and potential amendment of the Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives.
According to Geraldo Núñez, the proposal is designed to close existing legal gaps that facilitate the circulation of weapons of unknown or illegal origin. She emphasized that although current federal legislation regulates the possession, carrying, and commercialization of firearms, it is necessary to continuously evaluate and update these laws in order to respond to emerging risks, particularly those linked to illicit arms trafficking.
“The uncontrolled availability of firearms poses a growing threat to public safety,” Geraldo Núñez stated. “By requiring individuals to prove the lawful acquisition of their weapons, we aim to promote greater accountability and reduce the potential for firearms to be used in criminal acts.”
The Citizen Security and Civil Protection Committee identified four main pillars supporting the legislative proposal: the trafficking and availability of firearms; the existing legal gaps in registration processes; the challenge of legalizing weapons that originate from illicit sources; and the overall necessity of confirming the lawful provenance of all firearms owned by civilians.
To ensure legal consistency, the committee incorporated a technical adjustment based on a structural reform to the Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives enacted in May 2025. This amendment was introduced after the initiative was initially filed, and the adjustment aligns the new proposal with the updated federal framework.
The committee concluded that the initiative is constitutionally sound and fully aligned with the principles of the Political Constitution of the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California, as well as with applicable provisions of the Mexican Constitution. It determined that the proposed reform is both legally viable and necessary to strengthen national security policies.
Because firearms regulation falls under federal jurisdiction, the Baja California State Congress will forward the approved initiative to the Congress of the Union for formal analysis, debate, and potential enactment. Legislators expressed confidence that the proposal represents a proactive step toward enhancing transparency, accountability, and public safety through tighter regulation of firearm ownership in Mexico.