Mexico’s gun ownership policy and gun laws are a very complex topic. The Mexican constitution states that you must be naturalized or a Mexican-born to own a gun.
“Naturalized” is when you go through the process. You’ve lived in Mexico for a certain amount of time or you have had Mexican children or you married a Mexican woman and you went through the legal process to become a naturalized citizen.
Mexico is a peaceful country. We’re not a war country. We’re a neutral country. So, you can’t have an AK-47 legally in your house. That is entirely illegal. You’re allowed to have a handgun but there are certain jurisdictions and regulations you must go through. This is a big debate here because we have foreigners such as many Americans who would like to own guns. However, there are many restrictions. As a foreigner, you cannot own a gun until our constitution is changed. However, there are attorneys that debate this and there are legal strategies that your attorneys can do to see if they win an appeal to the court that you can own a gun. If it’s your heart desire, there is always a way like in any legal suit. However, the law is pretty clear about what and what is not allowed relative to guns.
Mexico does not have the gun culture like in the United States, where you can go into Cabela’s and do a background check. Even in the States you must have a permanent residency or be an American citizen living in that state to own a gun. So, the laws here in Mexico are similar but different.
You just must go by the book and respect the Mexican laws. I highly advise anyone who wants to purchase a gun to see an attorney before buying a gun because of the process you must go through. Don’t buy a gun on the black market. You can get into very, very, very deep trouble. It is a felony in Mexico to purchase guns on the black market or without having the gun properly registered. It’s not state jurisdiction; it’s federal.
There have been many disputes with foreigners and many attorneys will dispute the law and I know a few attorneys who are doing what we call here, an “amparo,” which is the highest level of using our court systems that you can appeal to a federal judge stating generally, that their client is here legally, and the constitution is not defending your rights as in 2010, when Mexico made a reform in its constitution stating that everyone who comes in legally has human rights. These rights are valid as our constitution, so the lawyer would argue that he or she found an error in our constitution. Every attorney has his or her own strategy. I can’t say no, I can’t say yes. Technically, no, you may not own a gun but there are, but there is always room or a margin to be able to give an attorney more work to allow you to have a gun if that’s your heart’s desire.
(Cover of the original copy of the Constitution of Mexico, pictured.)
You absolutely do not need to renounce or relinquish your US citizenship or get dual citizenship when you move and live abroad. 
When you sign contracts (for instance a promissory agreement of purchase and sale) in both versions, e.g. in Portuguese and in English, you can introduce a clause specifying which version shall prevail in case of any question arising from the interpretation of the contract. The version that prevails can either be Portuguese or English. 
Driving… 
I survived my heart attack. Some of you may have read my harrowing story on this site about my ambulance ride to Panama City (