Community Corner

Brooklyn Gun Buy-Back Yields 71 Weapons

Seven of the weapons were fully loaded

The public surrendered 71 guns anonymously yesterday at the 13th Cash-for-Guns campaign at the First Baptist Church of Brownsville Saturday.

According to NYPD, seven of those guns turned in on Saturday were a fully-loaded, including a Tec-9 and 22 other semi-automatics, 31 revolvers, seven rifles and shotguns and 10 zip or starter guns.

Also turned in at the gun buy-back were a sawed-off shotgun, two 45-caliber semi automatics and a Tec-9 semi-automatic that was surrendered fully loaded with hollow point bullets. Hollow point bullets are designed to kill by inflicting maximum tissue damage, blood loss and shock in gunshot victims.

"Yesterday, a fully loaded assault weapon designed to destroy human life was removed from circulation, and thousands of others collected through the cash for guns program no longer have the potential to kill. That is one impact of the Brooklyn Clergy NYPD Task Force," Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said. "I thank its leadership, Bishop A.D. Lyons and the First Baptist Church of Brownsville, and the Kings County District Attorney's office for their support."

Since 2008, a total of 6,973 firearms have been removed from City streets through the church drives, at which citizens may anonymously surrender firearms and receive $200 bank cards for working handguns and $20 for rifles or BB guns. The events also are part of an ongoing program established last September by the Brooklyn Clergy NYPD Task Force to address violent crime.

Citizens who want to turn in weapons can do so anonymously at police stations citywide every day of the week and receive $100. In addition, the Department's Operation GunStop program (1-866-GUN-STOP) rewards individuals up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of an individual who is carrying, selling or using guns illegally.


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