Mexico’s government is to award up to $1,300 to those who surrender weaponry such as machine guns and assault rifles as part of a citizen disarmament program aimed at lowering violent crime.
The financial incentives for persons who drop off guns at church collection stations were announced late Monday in the country’s official gazette.
They are 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.
President Claudia Sheinbaum last month encouraged residents to participate in the “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace” program, assuring those sceptical that they would not be prosecuted if they gave up weapons.
“It’s 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,” she said.
“We also had it in Mexico City, and it had significant results,” added the former mayor of the capital city, home to around nine million people.
Mexico is rife with violent crime tied to the multibillion-dollar illegal drug trade.
According to preliminary estimates from the national statistics institute, the country recorded 31,062 homicides in 2023, with weapons accounting for 70% of the total.
Mexico closely controls gun sales, making them nearly impossible to obtain legally, and has frequently pushed Washington to address cross-border gun trafficking.
