Mexico: President formalizes disarmament program

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum officially launched her campaign to combat the proliferation of firearms this Friday in front of Mexico City’s famous Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the capital.

Called “yes to disarmament, yes to peace”, this program encourages weapon owners in Mexico to deposit them anonymously in exchange for a certain sum of money in cash, even in churches.

“This program consists of the fact that, without investigation, a weapon found in a home can be handed over for money and to be destroyed,” the president declared during the ceremony.

The collaboration of Mexican religious powers

A weapon was symbolically destroyed by soldiers. Children accompanied by their parents were even able to exchange their plastic weapons for other toys.

“Why should we teach our children anything to do with violence?” added Claudia Sheinbaum.

This public disarmament program will be extended to the entire country, with the collaboration of Mexican religious powers and under the coordination of the Ministries of Defense, Interior and Public Security.

70% of homicides caused by firearms in 2023

Farewell to Arms will bring in 1,045 pesos (46.20 Swiss francs) for a homemade weapon and up to 26,450 pesos (1.10 Swiss francs) for a light or heavy machine gun.

This program has existed since May 2019 in Mexico City and was created by the Mexican president when she was mayor of the capital of 9.2 million inhabitants.

In 2023, Mexico recorded 31,062 homicides, 70% of which were caused by firearms, according to preliminary figures from the National Institute of Statistics.

Three-quarters of homicides are linked to clashes between criminal groups for control of roads or drug markets, said former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The Mexican government has filed a complaint against American arms manufacturers, accusing it of fueling violence in Mexico.

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