Mexican government swapping Xbox / PC for gang's weaponry

[wraggster]

Here's an interesting one. It appears that a newly-elected mayor is trying desperately to restore order to the "notorious inner-city barrio of Tepito," but rather than raiding gang hangouts and throwing 'em all in the slammer, the Mexican government is looking to reward them. In a presumably last ditch effort to curb gunfighting, officials are offering up computers ( reportedly worth $769) to gunslingers who give up a "high-caliber weapon such as a machine gun," while folks coughing up smaller artillery will be blessed with an Xbox console. Notably, the effort is already seeing minor "success," as some 17 guns were turned in on the program's launch day alone. Look, we know it's a hard choice between gaming and booze (and hair, for that matter), but we seriously doubt that turning citywide bullies into hackers and couch potatoes is the ideal solution here.

via engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/28/mexican-government-swapping-xbox-pc-for-gangs-weaponry/)

[oosername05]

I do think that the xboxes and the computers they are receiving for those guns will turn them into couch potatoes and therefore, making the citywide bullies stay all day at home, friendless and anti-social, eating the instant ramen noodle soups, therefore lowering the crime rates on the streets.

[Dull Blade]

That would make me want to turn in one of my high calibure wepons, if I had one.

[pibs]

nah gaming is no substitute for the real thing.......

why not use the weapon to rob a person of their xbox/pc?

[briyan]

i heard you only need an Icepick to preorder..

[Elven6]

Are these new ones or refurbished ones?

[mmedina]

As I was thinking when I saw the news in another forum:

"Give the gun->receive PC or XBox 360->Sell it-> Buy some guns (more than one)".

I'm mexican, and knowing all the fame Tepito has got so far, the previous cycle makes sense :D