In Edomex, Pedro Rodríguez Villegas leads the gun exchange program to protect Atizapán families / @Pedro_RVillegas @GobAtizapan
(#YesToDisarmament – #AtizapánMovesForward) *** #AtizapánDeZaragoza, #StateOfMexico.- In a ceremony that underscores the municipal commitment to public safety and family well‑being, Mayor #PedroRodríguezVillegas, together with #SMDIF honorary president #PatyArévalo, launched the 2026 weapons‑for‑peace exchange program titled «Sí al Desarme, Sí a la Paz», inviting residents to surrender firearms, ammunition and explosives voluntarily and anonymously in exchange for a monetary incentive; the initiative seeks to reduce domestic risks and foster a culture of nonviolence across Atizapán de Zaragoza.
The campaign establishes a confidential channel for citizens to hand in dangerous items without fear of investigation, prioritizing accident prevention and the protection of household integrity; the municipal administration emphasized that the exchange is an act of civic responsibility aimed at safeguarding families and rebuilding social trust.
Officials explained that the program is part of a comprehensive security strategy that combines incentives, community outreach and interinstitutional coordination; by removing weapons from private homes, authorities expect to mitigate immediate hazards and promote collective responsibility in neighborhoods throughout the municipality.
Recent measurements reflect a marked decline in the perception of insecurity, which fell from more than 70 % in December 2021 to approximately 45.5 %, a trend municipal authorities attribute to investments in road checkpoints, the deployment of 260 patrol vehicles and the professionalization of the local police; Pedro Rodríguez Villegas highlighted that such advances are reinforced by citizen participation in initiatives like the weapons exchange.
Commissioner Luis Alfonso Castillo, representing State Security Secretary Mtro. Cristóbal Castañeda Camarillo, affirmed that the program helps save lives, prevent accidents and mend the social fabric by raising awareness of the dangers of keeping weapons at home, and urged residents to take part responsibly and in solidarity.
The exchange module will operate at the Explanada Municipal, Boulevard Adolfo López Mateos No. 91, colonia El Potrero, from 3 to 8 August and from 10 to 15 August, Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 16:00 and Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:00; the municipality reiterated that deliveries are confidential, do not trigger investigations and constitute a concrete measure to strengthen peaceful coexistence for the benefit of Atizapán families.
#MéxicoNewsTv – México News tv
