Mexico City, Mexico - Recently the Mexican Senate approved amendments to the Law on Firearms and Explosives which would impose greater penalties on people who carry restricted firearms in this country.

The new amendment would impose a penalty of five to thirty years in prison and fines between 100 and 500 days of minimum wage on people who violate these laws.

Restricted firearms are weapons that only Mexican Armed Forces personnel are allowed to use.

Some of the weapons that are included in the restricted-use category are nine mm pistols, Luger pistols, 6.8 mm caliber rifles, submachine guns, and other high-power and/or rapid-fire firearms. The changes to the law seek to curb violence inflicted by criminal organizations in the country and the illegal arms trade across the US-Mexican border.

The amendments also impose penalties on persons who have altered their firearms or ammunition to inflict more damage with two to 10 years in prison and fines from 100 to 300 days of minimum wage.