New York Obtains Over 3,000 Guns From Buyback Program
Last April, the state of New York hosted a statewide gun buyback program that paid citizens to turn in their firearms.
According to New York attorney general Letitia James, the organizer of the program, more than 3,000 guns were turned in. The firearms included pistols, AR-15s, and so-called “ghost guns” (homemade firearms).
New York rewarded $500 for turning in a firearm, and $150 for each additional handgun. 9 buyback locations were set-up across the state so that New Yorkers could travel to and turn in their firearms. One location reported that they bought 90 firearms in three hours. In Syracuse alone, residents turned in 751 guns.
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh applauded the success of the event and expressed that he believes the number of guns in the city is causing the rate of violent crime.
“There are too many damn guns in this country. They’re everywhere,” Mayor Walsh stated. “We have too many states that are abdicating their responsibility to ensure that guns are being sold safely.”
New York Attorney General James applauded the program as well, stating that everyone gun removed is a potential tragedy averted.
“Gun violence has caused so many avoidable tragedies and robbed us of so many innocent New Yorkers … Every gun that we removed out of Syracuse homes and off the streets is a potential tragedy averted and another step in protecting communities throughout New York state.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James
The buyback program will likely do little to reduce crime in the state of New York. The people who turned in their firearms are primarily law-abiding citizens. The criminals in the state are far less likely to turn in their firearms. Now, they are more powerful than before because honest Americans have disarmed themselves voluntarily.
