Easy access to weapons in León increases the risk of domestic violence, accidents involving minors, and gun-related thefts. The Municipal Government has allocated 54% of its annual budget, around 9.1 million pesos, to security, including police training and crime prevention strategies. Authorities have reported a 23.3% decrease in violence reports in 43 priority neighborhoods.
For her part, Mayor Ale Gutiérrez has defended the program, stating that peace is built through education and prevention, although she acknowledges that the problem of violence will not be resolved overnight. The economic incentive for those who surrender weapons ranges from 3,000 to 26,000 pesos, depending on the type of weapon.
Rocío Bárcena Molina, Deputy Secretary of Democratic Development, highlighted the importance of addressing the underlying causes of violence to eradicate it completely, emphasizing the need for deeper actions to combat insecurity. In León, weapons are not only in the hands of criminals but can also be found in homes.
The initiative, carried out in collaboration with SEDENA and the Secretary of Governance, aims to reduce violence in the city. In 2024, the Municipal Police secured 321 firearms, 275 magazines, and more than 3,300 cartridges. The program allows the surrender of any type of firearm, magazines, or cartridges without the need to investigate their origin.
León, Guanajuato, was part of the campaign 'Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace', which aims to reduce the number of weapons in circulation by offering economic incentives to those who anonymously surrender them.
