Tennesee: "We're done with guns, 15 decide"

[cuchulainn]

from the GoMemphis site

http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_1867699,00.html

We're done with guns, 15 decide

By Maria Bibbs
[email protected]
April 6, 2003

As her 9-year-old son watched anxiously, Thelma Tate got rid of the concealed threat in her home Saturday morning.

She traded her P-380 handgun for Libertyland tickets at the Tickets for Guns exchange at the National Civil Rights Museum.

"It's because my son is older now," Tate said.

"He could get through the lock even though it was in a safe. This is for his safety as well as for his playmates'."

City Council member Myron Lowery organized the event in conjunction with a seminar, "Done with Guns: A Seminar to End Gun Violence."

His aim was to educate the public on combating gun violence while offering an incentive to get firearms out of the home.

After police determined that the guns were unloaded, the owners received five pairs of tickets from seven entertainment choices: the Memphis Grizzlies, Libertyland, the Memphis Redbirds, the Memphis Zoo, Malco Theatres, the National Civil Rights Museum, Putt Putt Golf, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Some ticket packages were worth more than $250.

Over the course of six hours, police collected 15 firearms, including .357 magnums, rifles, sawed-off shotguns and 25 caliber pistols.

Specialists from the firearms training unit checked the guns' serial numbers. After police verify that the guns were not involved in a crime, the weapons will be fed to a scrap yard shredder.

At the "Done with Guns" seminar, about 100 students and civic group volunteers took note of several strategies to put an end to the violent crime prevalent among American youth.

"Every day, 10 young people are killed by handguns," said Michael Beard of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.

"People buy them to protect themselves, but instruments of death do not provide safety and security."

Former gang member Terrell Johnson, 31, delivered a chilling account of how gun violence has affected his life.

"I buried 15 people in October of the year 2000," he said. "It was all gun-related."

Younger listeners were particularly affected by Johnson's story about the grim reality of gangs and prison.

"I liked the way he spoke without holding anything back," said Hamilton High School sophomore Alexandria Hamilton, 15. "He spoke the truth about how everything about a gun is real."

Irvy Whitaker, 21, said the forum gave him an awareness of the potential dangers of weapon accessibility.

"I learned why carrying a gun is not good for you," said Whitaker. "I'd always heard it, but I never really understood it."

Lowery said he was pleased that members of the community came to the seminar, saying it could be an important step in saving lives.

This is the third gun exchange organized by Lowery. Police collected 1,600 guns at 1994's Food for Guns event. Lowery followed up with the Gifts for Guns exchange in 1999, where 119 weapons were turned in.

Even though the turnout for Tickets for Guns was lower than it had been in the past exchange programs, Lowery said he was pleased.

"I'm not bound by numbers," he said. "That's 15 guns we got off the street."

- Maria Bibbs: 529-5896

Copyright 2003 - The Commercial Appeal

 

[KP95DAO]

"At the "Done with Guns" seminar, about 100 students and civic group volunteers took note of several strategies to put an end to the violent crime prevalent among American youth."


Well, they almost had it right. It should have read, "... prevelant among African-American youth."

 

[geekWithA.45]

People who turn in their guns...

probably never should have had them in the first place.

Guns aren't for everyone. But they are for anyone who elects the responsibility.

 

[PATH]

KP95Dao,

Gang bangers and peddlers is the term I prefer to use regardless of race, creed, sex, religious, sexual, etc...orientation!

We must remember to be sensitive and politically correct!

 

[Blackhawk]

"Politically correct" is an oxymoron.

 

[glocksman]

From the linked article:

"He could get through the lock even though it was in a safe. This is for his safety as well as for his playmates'."

I don't know of many 9 year olds who can break into a gun safe.

Unless this woman's idea of a 'safe' was a plastic toolbox with a 25 cent 'My Diary' lock on it.

 

[Ian]

"People buy them to protect themselves, but instruments of death do not provide safety and security."

Unless, of course, the instruments of death in question are overzealous FBI and ATF agents.

 

[Zundfolge]

Former gang member Terrell Johnson, 31, delivered a chilling account of how gun violence has affected his life.

"I buried 15 people in October of the year 2000," he said. "It was all gun-related."

No, Terrell they where all GANG RELATED.

People need to learn all the world's problems are created by people not things.


and how many of those 15 people where shot by police? or their potential victims?

 

[rock jock]

the National Civil Rights Museum

Uh, this is supposed to be an entertainment choice?

 

[Feanaro]

Former gang member Terrell Johnson, 31, delivered a chilling account of how gun violence has affected his life.

"I buried 15 people in October of the year 2000," he said. "It was all gun-related."

Quit blaming it on guns. You were part of a violent group of people, whether or not you had guns you would have buried those people.

I liked the way he spoke without holding anything back," said Hamilton High School sophomore Alexandria Hamilton, 15. "He spoke the truth about how everything about a gun is real."

Irvy Whitaker, 21, said the forum gave him an awareness of the potential dangers of weapon accessibility.

"I learned why carrying a gun is not good for you," said Whitaker. "I'd always heard it, but I never really understood it."

Stop teaching our youth this garbage! If you want to deprive yourself of protection, so be it. But don't do it to kids, they have a future unlike you. Irresponsible heads

 

[PsyWarrior]

OK, the one super liberal place in TN. All I have to say about Memphis is . All a gun is, is a few pounds of metal and/or plastic. If all the guns in the world suddenly disappeared, then they would ban kitchen knives and baseball bats. . The only way to solve this is by educating the general population in responsible gun ownership and crack down on gangs and drug dealers. If they see a group of gang bangers hanging around, search and if justified, arrest them. Punish the criminals and leave us law abiding citizens alone. :banghead: This just drives me absolutely insane.

 

[MitchSchaft]

Not quite super liberal. The cops here still think we should have guns and do ecourage it. It's the politicians in this city that give us a bad rep. We live by the same State laws as you. Not to mention we have the only TFA chapter in the whole State.

 

[MitchSchaft]

Also, there was a robbery at a Subway shop here last year. The suspect ran out the door and was in the process of running away. The store owner ran out and shot him in the back killing the thief. The DA did not file charges. Hardly super liberal if you ask me.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

"She traded her P-380 handgun for Libertyland tickets"

Am I the only one who sees the irony in this?

 

[Hard Charger]

Let's see:

Over 10,000 gang members in Shelby County http://www.scdag.com/gangstats.htm#top

And 15 guns were turned in.


I feel better already. Those 15 guns off the street will take Memphis out of it's coveted spot as the nations "most dangerous metro area" and move them way down the list. Memphis is safer now than it ever has been.

Yeah, right.

 

[DeltaElite]

Too bad the guns weren't traded in for free sterilization, so as not to spread more defective genetic material.

 

[Baba Louie]

The Bozo's Of The World (B'sOTW) claim it's all gun-related crime and their mom's agree, so it must be a genetic thing. ("My mother was a bozo-ette in college")

My Father taught me different I guess.

Turn in a gun for $250 worth of entertainment tickets? Maybe if my teenage gangbangin kid had a hot POS cheapy illegally owned handgun that I didn't want in his possession (at least one I don't want him to get CAUGHT with)... then maybe... probably, knowing full well that he's gonna go back out and buy another "hot" item ASAP.

"It was all gun-related."

Right.

More power to them. Hope it puts a dent in crime.

Right.

Adios

 

[Darrin]

She traded her P-380 handgun for Libertyland tickets at the Tickets for Guns exchange at the National Civil Rights Museum.

"It's because my son is older now," Tate said.

"He could get through the lock even though it was in a safe. This is for his safety as well as for his playmates'."

"I'm not bound by numbers," he said. "That's 15 guns we got off the street."

Wouldn't that be 14 off the street and one out of the gun case?