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http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=1454402
he HEAT is on in Metro, HEAT meaning "Help Eliminate Armed Thugs." It's a new program designed crush the use of illegal guns in Nashville. And on Tuesday, police crushed the guns themselves.
Buried in a pile of rubble is part of the HEAT success story. More than 1,700 illegal guns have been confiscated by Metro Police over the last several months, and now they are reduced to scrap metal. It's the kind of day Metro Police Sergeant Phillip Sage likes, seeing weapons of destruction loaded into junk cars and lifted onto a conveyor belt. Their destiny: a grinding end.
Sage said, "It just kind of is mindboggling the things we, the police department, recover on the streets of Nashville. It's just unreal."
Sgt Sage knows the damage such a weapon can do. In 1981, he found himself on the receiving end of a 30-30 shotgun while answering a "Shots-fired" call.
"Every day I kind of knock on wood, say, 'Thank goodness I'm still alive, I'm still kicking, I can still do the job that I do,'" said Sage.
The job he does now includes helping destroy illegal guns - weapons designed for one purpose, to kill.
Acting Metro Police Chief Deborah Faulkner said, "That's what we're up against, but it's a mission that we've taken on gladly, and we'll fill this building up if we have to."
Officials know that even with a new concentrated assault on guns, they're just scraping the tip of the iceburg.
Faulkner said, "I just wonder how many more are out on the streets, because we don't get them all, there's not a way we can get them all. But at least these right here will no longer be used for something out on the streets."
For Sgt. Sage, each weapon crushed to bits is another person, maybe another officer, safe from harm.
"These guns will no longer be on the street commiting crimes in Nashville or anywhere else for that matter. It's wonderful," he said.
HEAT is a partnership between local, state, and federal law enforcement and prosecutors. Together they want to make sure anyone caught with an illegal gun faces the stiffest sentence the law allows.
Nationwide, violent crime has dropped by 1/3 over the past several years. But guns still play a major role. According to the ATF, there were 16,000 murders across the nation in 2001. 10,000 were commited with firearms. Over 1/3 of the victims were between the ages of 13-24. Half of the killers were in that same age range.
Melissa Penry for News 2 at 4 & 6 pm
9.23.03
Man that had to hurt with a 30-30......
and that is saddening...all those guns gone.
and did you know more kids ages 1-9 die in 5 gallon bucket than by gun shot....i say ban the buckets
he HEAT is on in Metro, HEAT meaning "Help Eliminate Armed Thugs." It's a new program designed crush the use of illegal guns in Nashville. And on Tuesday, police crushed the guns themselves.
Buried in a pile of rubble is part of the HEAT success story. More than 1,700 illegal guns have been confiscated by Metro Police over the last several months, and now they are reduced to scrap metal. It's the kind of day Metro Police Sergeant Phillip Sage likes, seeing weapons of destruction loaded into junk cars and lifted onto a conveyor belt. Their destiny: a grinding end.
Sage said, "It just kind of is mindboggling the things we, the police department, recover on the streets of Nashville. It's just unreal."
Sgt Sage knows the damage such a weapon can do. In 1981, he found himself on the receiving end of a 30-30 shotgun while answering a "Shots-fired" call.
"Every day I kind of knock on wood, say, 'Thank goodness I'm still alive, I'm still kicking, I can still do the job that I do,'" said Sage.
The job he does now includes helping destroy illegal guns - weapons designed for one purpose, to kill.
Acting Metro Police Chief Deborah Faulkner said, "That's what we're up against, but it's a mission that we've taken on gladly, and we'll fill this building up if we have to."
Officials know that even with a new concentrated assault on guns, they're just scraping the tip of the iceburg.
Faulkner said, "I just wonder how many more are out on the streets, because we don't get them all, there's not a way we can get them all. But at least these right here will no longer be used for something out on the streets."
For Sgt. Sage, each weapon crushed to bits is another person, maybe another officer, safe from harm.
"These guns will no longer be on the street commiting crimes in Nashville or anywhere else for that matter. It's wonderful," he said.
HEAT is a partnership between local, state, and federal law enforcement and prosecutors. Together they want to make sure anyone caught with an illegal gun faces the stiffest sentence the law allows.
Nationwide, violent crime has dropped by 1/3 over the past several years. But guns still play a major role. According to the ATF, there were 16,000 murders across the nation in 2001. 10,000 were commited with firearms. Over 1/3 of the victims were between the ages of 13-24. Half of the killers were in that same age range.
Melissa Penry for News 2 at 4 & 6 pm
9.23.03
Man that had to hurt with a 30-30......
and that is saddening...all those guns gone.
and did you know more kids ages 1-9 die in 5 gallon bucket than by gun shot....i say ban the buckets
