Quintana Roo Continues Toy Gun Exchange Program to Combat Youth Violence

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Authorities in Quintana Roo are continuing a program that exchanges toy guns for educational toys, aiming to prevent children from normalizing violence as a way to resolve conflicts.

The State Citizen Security System’s Executive Secretariat maintains active toy weapon exchange campaigns across the state. Adrián Martínez Ortega, head of the secretariat, explained that this social prevention strategy seeks to discourage weapon culture from childhood.

“This program is part of ongoing crime prevention and peace-building actions coordinated with municipalities and security forces across the state,” Martínez Ortega said. “The strategy involves setting up mobile modules in neighborhoods, parks, and public spaces to bring these activities directly to families and encourage community participation.”

At these exchange points, parents and guardians can trade toy pistols, rifles, and other war-like toys for educational, didactic, or recreational toys without facing any penalties or investigations. The program focuses entirely on prevention and promoting positive values from childhood.

According to secretariat data, since these campaigns began, Quintana Roo has removed hundreds of toy weapons from homes, along with a significant number of real firearms through parallel voluntary disarmament programs. These initiatives aim to reduce the presence of dangerous objects in households and lower the risk of accidents or violent incidents.

In the real weapons program, citizens can anonymously surrender firearms in exchange for economic incentives or food packages, helping to reduce high-risk items in private homes and strengthen community security.

Martínez Ortega emphasized that various social prevention studies indicate early exposure to weapon replicas can normalize violent behavior, making it crucial to intervene during childhood through educational actions that promote peaceful coexistence, dialogue, empathy, and non-violent conflict resolution.

He noted that these campaigns not only aim to remove toy weapons but also create spaces for families and children to reflect on the impact of violence and the importance of building safe environments at home and in the community.

State authorities reiterated that social prevention is a key tool for strengthening social fabric and reducing risk factors, and they will continue promoting these programs in coordination with educational institutions, civil organizations, and municipal authorities.

Martínez Ortega invited citizens to stay informed about exchange module dates and locations, emphasizing that family participation is essential for advancing toward a culture of peace that prioritizes healthy coexistence and the well-being of new generations in Quintana Roo.