In Camden, New Jersey an exodus of residents descended on two churches to turn in firearms during a buy back program over the weekend.
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In response to the Newtown murders last week, gun owners in America’s deadliest city turned in a record number of weapons in exchange for money for each firearm.
Gun owners received $25 for BB guns, $50 for inoperable firearms, $150 for revolvers, semi automatics, shotguns and rifles and $250 for assault weapons.
Approximately 1,137 firearms, including an elephant gun, were handed over to the police between Saturday and Sunday.
“We heard that there were a number of gun owners on Saturday who had publicly said, in light of the situation that had just occurred in Connecticut, they wanted to turn in their weapons,” Paul Loriquet, a spokesman for the Camden police, said in an interview with Philly.com.
More than ninety percent of the guns were in working condition and many were illegal weapons under state laws. Others were community guns; weapons that are stashed around neighborhoods. But residents were told they could turn in the guns, no questions asked, and were promised anonymity.
“A lot of people said they don’t want the guns around the house now,” said state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa as he announced the result of the program.
Nearly all of the weapons are to be destroyed.
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It looks like the carnage of Sandy Hook Elementary will be felt for years to come. And while that will be a horrifying reminder, Camden showed that it could also change some things for the better.
SOURCE: Daily Mail
