Thursday, August 23, 2012
Buffalo fights crime with prepaid
Buffalo, N.Y., paid out $32,140 in prepaid cards to people who turned in a total of 746 guns at the city's fifth annual Gun Buyback program held Aug. 18, 2012. The program is part of Buffalo's effort to remove weapons from the streets. "This year's gun buyback will continue to assist in our efforts to reduce the overall crime rate in the City of Buffalo," said Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown.
The program took place at seven Buffalo area churches and was financed by funds seized from illegal drug sales and other criminal activities in the city. Prepaid cards were issued in amounts ranging from $10 for non-working or antique guns to $100 for assault weapons, with rifles and handguns yielding $50 and $75 respectively.
The city reported it has swapped 2,951 guns for over $100,000 in prepaid cards since Buffalo instituted the program in 2007. The initiative is one of several anti-crime measures being implemented throughout the city, including the newly created Operation Strike Force and the expansion of a surveillance camera system.
"I recognize that this single Gun BuyBack effort will not eliminate the illegal weapons on our city streets," said Mayor Brown. "However, we need to continue to keep the peace and stop the violence and this program will be an opportunity for residents to turn in guns that they would like to remove from their homes."
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