At Mexico’s 2 Legal Gun Shops, a Conflicted View of Firearms Is on Display

For anyone seeking firearms in Mexico, long treks across state lines are common, from two hours away for ammo to eight-hour drives for handguns or nine-hour overnight trips for precision rifles. These gun stores, just two legal ones nationwide, serve as both a symbol of Mexico's conflicted stance on firearms and a reflection of government efforts to regulate access while struggling with a thriving black market fueled by American-made weapons. Inside these institutions, which resemble cross-state D.M.V.s but also feel more like small museums, applicants undergo extensive background checks and document waits before securing even the most basic weapon.