A drag on national development

It has been almost a decade that large regions of Mexico have been involved in situations of violence. In several cities and entities the population has had to modify their everyday activities; In schools, teachers and students have had to learn together how to act if there is a shoot-out near the campus; Entrepreneurs and traders have also taken action to confront crime.

It is true that the situation is different in the paradigmatic cities of violence of some years ago (Ciudad Juárez, Tijuana, Monterrey). Homicide rates are lower and a rebuilding of the social structure occurred. But there are other regions where crime does not yield.

According to official figures from the National Public Security System, last May was the month with the highest number of murders in the last 20 years when the incidence of crime began to be measured. Murders summed up 2 thousand 186, an average of three per hour. Twelve states reported their highest rate of violence so far this year. In other high-impact crimes there were 100 cases of kidnapping; 522 extortions, 5 thousand 208 vehicle thefts with violence and 10 thousand 368 vehicle thefts without violence.

For a generation of Mexicans, the high crime rates are an everyday thing and that is the risk, that normality means living with the threats of criminal groups. Why get used to living standards dictated by crime? The demand must be very clear to the authorities of the three levels: it is necessary to end impunity. How many of the 9 thousand 916 files of murder investigation initiated in the first five months of the year will be clarified? The lack of punishment for the commission of that crime only encourages the reproduction of it.

The situation is not generalized throughout the territory, there are states like Yucatán,

Campeche

and Tlaxcala with minimum rates. Focusing on the problem should be a plus in combating it, but different efforts have been unsuccessful. The solution has many layers in which many actors play an important role beginning with the governments (municipal, state and federal), who must guarantee the security, besides the Judicial Power, the prosecution offices, the national educational system (so that students do not drop out and join criminal gangs), as well as entrepreneurs who bet on the generation of decent jobs with social benefits.

Insecurity has become a drag on national development. The day that is reverted the situation for many will begin to change and a route on the right path will be followed. Results will come only if there is joint work.
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