As I said, it a gorgeous country with unlimited places that beg to be explored. Between growing up in Southern California, where Baja California and border towns were our teen and college-age playgrounds, and my trek into Central America in 2004, I've got some real experience on the ground in Mexico. I'm not an alarmist.
The truth is that the cartel violence is very real and there are bands of militia fighting to take the country back in each and every state. Violent crime was up in the 30th percentile in 2013. The federal and state governments are at such a loss that they've allowed these groups unprecedented unilateral policing powers. Are you numerically safer in Campeche than Oakland, CA?
Perhaps. The web page linked above is a marketing piece with questionable provenance and many convenient omissions. I'm not trying to launch a debate about the merits of traveling to a beautiful, deserving country like Mexico. But the threats faced [predominantly, to this point] by Mexico's citizens are far different than the somewhat randomized or relationship-dependent (about 43% of US victims know their aggressors) violence we have in the states. Kidnapping for ransom or plain blood-letting is everyday news in states like Guerrero and Tamaulipas.
So, I'll leave it at this: do your homework (you'll have to anyway, because a serious overland incursion into Mexico isn't a casual affair that you can mount in a matter of days) and
really read the
current US Department of State reports prior to traveling anywhere that requires a passport (sorry, Canada... I don't mean you!).
Alerts and Warnings
I'll reiterate that my personal experience in 2004 (only ten days driving throughout Mexico's eastern states) is exactly as everyone else describes theirs - friendly young soldiers at infrequent checkpoints, lovely, warm and generous citizens and a nearly flawless adventure through some of the most breathtaking places you can imagine.