The Mexican government has announced a new disarmament initiative offering financial incentives of up to $1,300 for citizens who voluntarily surrender firearms, including assault rifles and machine guns. The program, aimed at curbing violent crime, encourages residents to turn in their weapons at designated collection points, primarily located in churches.
Details of the incentives, published Monday in the country’s official gazette, include payments of 8,700 pesos (approximately $430) for a revolver, 25,000 pesos ($1,200) for an AK-47, and 26,450 pesos ($1,300) for a machine gun.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has urged citizens to participate in the “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace” program, assuring the public that those who hand over weapons will not face prosecution.
“This initiative provides safe locations, such as church lobbies, where individuals can voluntarily surrender their firearms in exchange for economic incentives,” Sheinbaum explained. “We implemented a similar program in Mexico City, and it yielded significant results.”
Rising Concerns Over Gun Violence
Mexico has long grappled with violent crime fueled by the multibillion-dollar illegal drug trade. In 2023, the country recorded 31,062 homicides, with firearms accounting for 70 percent of those deaths, according to preliminary data from the National Statistics Institute.
Despite strict gun control laws that make legal firearm purchases nearly impossible, Mexico faces a steady flow of illicit weapons smuggled across the border from the United States. The Mexican government has repeatedly called on Washington to address arms trafficking as part of bilateral efforts to combat violence.
The program represents the latest step in Mexico’s broader strategy to reduce gun violence and promote peace by encouraging citizens to disarm voluntarily.
