Dear Sir,
In your feature article last week, “Cross-border arms trafficking,” you state that “Mexicans (and I assume that applies to foreigners as well) are only permitted to buy weapons of a lower caliber than a .357 Magnum, such as a .380 or .38 Special.” If I am not mistaken, a .380 or a .38 Special is of higher caliber than a .357 Magnum. Am I to assume that a .38 is legal, whereas a .357 is not?
Philip Nowell
Despite its name, the .38 is actually less powerful than a .357. In Mexico it is legal to buy a pistol or revolver from .22 to .380 caliber, but not a .357 Magnum.