Drizzt
April 24, 2003, 06:32 PM
City to pay $25,000 for unwanted handguns
Weapons buyback set for 3 days in May
By CHRISTINA HALL
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Have an operable handgun you want to get rid of? If so, you can get $50 for it.
Toledo police will conduct an anonymous gun buyback program May 3, 10, and 17 in an attempt to take 500 unwanted handguns off the streets.
City Council approved spending $25,000 from the law enforcement trust fund for the program, which will end early if the money runs out.
"Based on past experience, it goes like hotcakes," police Lt. Dave Schmidt said. "You hand me a gun, I hand you a $50 bill."
In his State of the City address in January, Mayor Jack Ford said he wanted to resume the gun buyback program, which is seen as a safe way to dispose of unwanted or prohibited handguns. Two buybacks in 2000 resulted in the collection of more than 1,000 weapons.
"The gun buyback program is a key component of the city of Toledo’s 10-point plan to reduce crime in our community. By using the [confiscated] money from drug sales and dealers to purchase unwanted guns, we hope this prevention effort will keep those firearms from unknowingly falling into the hands of a child or criminal," the mayor said through his spokesman, Megan Vahey.
Police Chief Mike Navarre agrees.
"Every gun that’s not on the street or sitting in the bedroom closet or on the floor is one less that can be used in a homicide or one less that a child could get to or one less that an officer could face," he said.
The buyback program will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the police’s Ottawa Park substation at the intersection of Kenwood Boulevard and Midwood Avenue. No identification is needed to drop off firearms.
Money only will be given for operable handguns, such as revolvers and pistols. A maximum of two handguns will be accepted per person. Police ask that the weapons be unloaded. If possible, police will assist someone who must drop off a loaded handgun.
Lieutenant Schmidt said the department will accept shotguns, rifles, BB guns, starter pistols, pellet guns, and visibly inoperable firearms; however, no payment will be given for these weapons.
Police personnel will make the final decision on whether or not to accept a firearm. Bullets also will be accepted.
The handguns will be checked to see whether they are stolen or have been used in a crime. If not, they will be destroyed, the lieutenant said.
He said citizens should transport the firearms safely, such as in a box or a bag in the trunk of their vehicle. Citizens can bring unwanted firearms to the city’s police stations anytime during the year; however, they will not receive payment for them.
For more information on the buyback program, call 419-245-3349.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20030422&Category=NEWS16&ArtNo=104220087&Ref=AR
Weapons buyback set for 3 days in May
By CHRISTINA HALL
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Have an operable handgun you want to get rid of? If so, you can get $50 for it.
Toledo police will conduct an anonymous gun buyback program May 3, 10, and 17 in an attempt to take 500 unwanted handguns off the streets.
City Council approved spending $25,000 from the law enforcement trust fund for the program, which will end early if the money runs out.
"Based on past experience, it goes like hotcakes," police Lt. Dave Schmidt said. "You hand me a gun, I hand you a $50 bill."
In his State of the City address in January, Mayor Jack Ford said he wanted to resume the gun buyback program, which is seen as a safe way to dispose of unwanted or prohibited handguns. Two buybacks in 2000 resulted in the collection of more than 1,000 weapons.
"The gun buyback program is a key component of the city of Toledo’s 10-point plan to reduce crime in our community. By using the [confiscated] money from drug sales and dealers to purchase unwanted guns, we hope this prevention effort will keep those firearms from unknowingly falling into the hands of a child or criminal," the mayor said through his spokesman, Megan Vahey.
Police Chief Mike Navarre agrees.
"Every gun that’s not on the street or sitting in the bedroom closet or on the floor is one less that can be used in a homicide or one less that a child could get to or one less that an officer could face," he said.
The buyback program will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the police’s Ottawa Park substation at the intersection of Kenwood Boulevard and Midwood Avenue. No identification is needed to drop off firearms.
Money only will be given for operable handguns, such as revolvers and pistols. A maximum of two handguns will be accepted per person. Police ask that the weapons be unloaded. If possible, police will assist someone who must drop off a loaded handgun.
Lieutenant Schmidt said the department will accept shotguns, rifles, BB guns, starter pistols, pellet guns, and visibly inoperable firearms; however, no payment will be given for these weapons.
Police personnel will make the final decision on whether or not to accept a firearm. Bullets also will be accepted.
The handguns will be checked to see whether they are stolen or have been used in a crime. If not, they will be destroyed, the lieutenant said.
He said citizens should transport the firearms safely, such as in a box or a bag in the trunk of their vehicle. Citizens can bring unwanted firearms to the city’s police stations anytime during the year; however, they will not receive payment for them.
For more information on the buyback program, call 419-245-3349.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20030422&Category=NEWS16&ArtNo=104220087&Ref=AR