Mexico has an issue with guns. Too many firearms make it across the border, apparently, and since their kleptocratic government can’t seem to get a handle on the violent psychopaths that make up the drug cartels, they don’t want any more coming across the border.

That became an issue for one Arizona man, though.

A Glendale father could now be facing almost three years in a Mexican federal prison for unintentionally bringing a gun on their Rocky Point vacation. Francine Nicholson’s husband, Ira Beavers, is currently being held in Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora.

The last time Francine saw him was on July 30, when they both were detained at the Lukeville/Sonoyta border. Now, she’s doing everything in her power to get him home. “I’m actually living a nightmare,” said Nicholson.

…

Beavers’ gun was legal in Arizona. But Mexico has strict laws on firearms. On Friday, he was denied bond and sentenced to nearly three years in prison. Now with the help of Mexican attorneys, the family is appealing the court’s decision.

Apparently, Beavers had forgotten he had the gun in the vehicle when he left for his trip. Now, he’s looking at a very rough three years. After all, Mexican prisons aren’t like American prisons. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

With luck, something can be arranged so Beavers can come home soon.

That said, I can’t help but shake my head at this. I mean, how do you forget where your firearm is? It’s a piece of lifesaving technology that you need to be able to access it quickly. Forgetting you have it means, at some point, you aren’t aware of where it is. How are you going to get it if you can’t remember you even have it?

It’s like the people who show up at the airport with a gun in their carry-on because they forgot it was there. How do you forget you packed a gun on your last trip?

I can’t help but imagine some of these people hearing someone breaking into their home and they have to tear through the house trying to find their gun because they can’t remember where they put it.

I’m not a particularly organized guy, but I know where all of my firearms are at all times.

That would be especially true if I was crossing national borders. I mean, this isn’t like taking hollowpoints through New Jersey–I can understand someone doing that, especially if they’re not actually staying in New Jersey. No, this is Mexico that doesn’t have anything remotely like our rules regarding guns.

Just to be clear, though, I don’t believe Beavers should spend three years rotting in a Mexican prison because of this mistake. I sincerely hope that something can be worked out and he can be home with his family very soon.

In the meantime, if you’re going to go into Mexico, make damn sure you don’t have a gun in the car. Learn from this so you don’t make the same mistake.