More guns could soon be removed from the streets of the Bronx.
Police and clergy are joining forces for another buy-back program this Saturday, January 23, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“The partnership between clergy, police and prosecutors is truly an inspired way to get guns off the street and make the Bronx even safer,” Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.
People who own legal or illegal guns will be able to trade them in for $200 bank cards. All of the transactions will be completely anonymous and there will be no questions asked.
“Though Bronxites can celebrate that the overall crime rate in our borough is down from last year, there are still too many shootings in our borough. We have to work harder to bring peace to the neighborhoods of the Bronx, and taking illegal guns off of our streets and out of our communities is one of the best ways to do it,” Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said.
There is no limit on how many guns may be turned in, however participants will only be paid a maximum sum of $600 for three guns. The bank cards can be used either as a debit card to make purchases or to withdraw cash from any ATM.
Nearly 1,000 guns were turned into Bronx churches during the first gun-buy back last April.
Firearms may be surrendered at the following locations:
St. Luke’s Catholic Church
623 East 138th Street
Bronx, New York 10454
(Between Cypress Avenue & St. Ann’s Street)
Reverend Msgr. Gerald J. Ryan
(718) 665-6677
St. Augustine’s Catholic
1183 Franklin Avenue
Bronx, New York 10456
(C/O East 167th Street)
Reverend Thomas Fenlon
(718) 893-0072
Transfiguration Lutheran Church
763 Prospect Avenue
Bronx, New York 10455
(C/O 156th Street)
Pastor Paul Block
(718) 378-3588
Our Lady of Grace
3985 Bronxwood Avenue
Bronx, New York 10466
(C/O East 226th Street)
Father Levelt Germain
(718) 652-4817
