The Mexican government has unveiled a new citizen disarmament initiative, encouraging individuals to voluntarily surrender their firearms at designated church locations in exchange for financial incentives. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace” program on Tuesday, emphasizing that participants would not face prosecution for turning in their weapons.
“This is about setting up places like the lobbies of churches where people can go to turn in their weapons voluntarily, and give them economic incentives to give up their firearms,” Sheinbaum explained during a press conference. She assured skeptical residents that the program would be conducted without legal consequences.
The program, set to begin next year, aims to reduce violence and promote peace, particularly in areas plagued by organized crime. Sheinbaum, who previously served as the mayor of Mexico City, highlighted the success of similar initiatives in the capital, which has a population of 9.2 million.
This disarmament initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to combat crime. Mexico saw 31,062 homicides in 2023, with 70% of those deaths attributed to firearms, according to preliminary data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. Many of the killings are linked to criminal groups fighting over control of drug markets and roadways.
The Mexican government also blames the surge in violence on the influx of illegal firearms smuggled from the United States. In response, Mexico has filed a lawsuit against US arms dealers, with the US Supreme Court set to examine the case’s admissibility this Friday.
