Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday unveiled a national campaign aimed at reducing the number of firearms on the country’s violence-stricken streets.
The initiative, named “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace,” incentivises citizens to anonymously surrender weapons at designated drop-off points, including churches, in exchange for cash. Compensation rates include 8,700 pesos ($430) for a revolver, 25,000 pesos ($1,200) for an AK-47 rifle, and 26,450 pesos ($1,300) for a machine gun. All surrendered firearms will be destroyed.
“This is about protecting our communities and ensuring a future where our children don’t grow up surrounded by violence,” Sheinbaum stated at the campaign launch event in Mexico City, which featured soldiers symbolically destroying a weapon.
The programme includes a unique touch for children, who can trade toy guns for other toys, pointing out the campaign’s commitment to fostering a culture of peace.
Initially implemented in Mexico City in 2019, the disarmament initiative will now extend nationwide. It will be managed by the ministries of defense, interior, and public safety, with support from religious organisations.
The plan is part of the government’s broader strategy to combat crime, which remains a major challenge in a country plagued by violence tied to the multibillion-dollar illegal drug trade.
In 2023, Mexico recorded 31,062 homicides, 70 per cent of which were linked to firearms, according to preliminary data from the National Statistics Institute.
Mexico’s strict gun control laws make it nearly impossible for civilians to legally purchase firearms.
The government has consistently called on the United States to crack down on arms trafficking across the border, which fuels much of the country’s violence.
