The buildings of the Tax Administration Service (SAT) in Mexico have armed private security personnel to maintain control of the facilities, according to the highest fiscal authority of the country. This measure was taken after the Mexican Congress approved a reform to the Firearms and Explosives Law on April 30.
As part of the reform to the Firearms and Explosives Law, it is established that public agencies that obtain the official collective license may only use the authorized weapons for official functions and public security. In this regard, the SAT has a license authorized by the Secretary of National Defense in the "Private security in property" modality, allowing the safeguarding of its facilities by armed private security personnel.
In response to rumors about whether SAT personnel are armed, the tax authority clarified that it is false that in the ruling approved by the Chamber of Deputies and Senators, it is established that SAT workers may carry firearms to fulfill their functions. It was emphasized that the administrative staff of the institution does not carry and will not carry weapons for the performance of their daily tasks, refuting recent information on the matter.
The main purpose of the reform to the Firearms and Explosives Law is to strengthen control over the possession and use of firearms in Mexico, as well as to toughen penalties against the illegal trafficking of weapons and to more strictly regulate the carrying and marketing of armaments in the country. Additionally, it aims to promote a culture of peace through ongoing disarmament campaigns, as indicated by the SAT through an informative card addressed to the media in the country.
