NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
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GUN BUY-BACK PROGRAM BEGINS SATURDAY AT RECLAIM THE STREETS MINISTRY - $100 PER WEAPON OFFERED IN EFFORT TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCEState Representative Ron Buxton(103rd), Mayor Stephen R. and Reclaim The Streets Ministries President William Jones, Jr., today reminded city residents that a gun buy-back program will begin this Saturday, November 18, at the Reclaim The Streets Ministry at N. 18th and State Streets. Persons turning in working firearms will receive a $100 Visa cash card which is redeemable at virtually any location. Reed said the program is being made possible through a $15,000 state Legislative Initiative Grant secured for Reclaim The Streets Ministries by Rep. Buxton. Reclaim The Streets Ministries is serving as the project coordinator for the anti-crime initiative, and will administer it through the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. Harrisburg City Councilwoman Patty Kim and her husband have also donated $1000 to the effort. The Mayor said any city resident with a working firearm, including handguns, rifles and shotguns, will be given the $100 cash card upon turning the weapon in at Reclaim The Streets Ministry from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and thereafter at either of the city’s two Community Policing Centers, on Allison Hill at 313 S. 15th Street(717) 232.3057, or Uptown at 2006 N. 6th Street(717) 233.3106. Ammunition will also be accepted for disposal, and anyone bringing in a weapon is urged to remove the gun’s bullets if the weapon is loaded before bringing it in. Rev. Jones and Rep. Buxton said the Gun Buy Back program will begin on Saturday, November 18, with a daylong event at the Reclaim the Streets ministry facility at 1801 State Street, where police will be on hand to accept the weapons that day only. The program will then continue through November 25 at the city’s two Community Policing Centers, which will be open from Noon to 8 p.m. daily, except on Thanksgiving Day, to accept the weapons and ammo. Persons wanting more information are asked to call the Office of the Chief of Police at (717) 255.3103. The Mayor noted that in its law enforcement work, the city itself has recovered or seized 1,460 firearms since 2003, with more being seized every week. “Reducing violence on our streets begins with reducing the flow of weapons,” said Buxton. “So I am pleased to join with Pastor Jones and the Mayor in launching the first gun buy-back program held in nearly a decade in the Capital Region. Even if we only get a single weapon off the street, it is still one less gun that can be used to kill or maim another human being.” Pastor Jones said it is a “bittersweet satisfaction to be able to offer this program. While Reclaim The Streets is filled with joy at taking guns off our streets, we are more saddened by the tragedy and heartache that so many in our community have had to contend with because of their impact. “We pray that no more mothers or wives lose their sons or husbands, that no more brothers or sisters lose their siblings, and that no more children lose their parents to this abomination of God’s Love for each of us.” Mayor Reed lauded Representative Buxton’s and Pastor Jones efforts to remove guns from the streets: “Our sincere appreciation is extended to Rep. Buxton and Reclaim The Streets for their good work on this. With these funds and more that will be raised in the weeks and months to come, literally hundreds of firearms can be removed from our streets, and forever prevented from wreaking any more havoc upon our streets and the lives of our residents. “We may never be able to completely reduce the flow of weapons to the streets, but removing even just one can mean the difference between someone living or dying. We strongly encourage residents from throughout the city and nearby area to participate.” Reed said the program will continue until November 24 if funding allows. All of the turned-in weapons are checked by police to see if they are stolen, and then destroyed by police, usually by melting them down into a solid mass at a nearby steel smelter, the Mayor noted. |
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