Police to Host Gun Buy-Back Program
Residents can bring their unwanted guns to the police on March 9.
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One local couple has stepped forward to fund an effort to curtail gun violence in the wake of the Sandy Hook school tragedy.
North Andover Police will host a Gun Buy-Back program at the North Andover Police Department Headquarters, 1475 Osgood St., on March 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
North Andover residents who have unwanted guns can bring them to the Police Station during that time and will receive an American Express gift card for $50, $100 or $150, depending on the type of gun: handgun, rifle, shotgun or assault rifle. There is no limit on the number of guns you can turn in, but each family will be limited to three gift cards.
"The firearms will be destroyed before they fall into the wrong hands, potentially resulting in a tragedy," police wrote in a statement about the program.
Funding for the program, $2,600, was provided by Phil and Judy Rohn, who were reportedly deeply moved by the Sandy Hook tragedy in December and wanted to do something to honor the victims and help prevent gun violence.
Non-working firearms, replicas and BB guns and ammunition will also be accepted, but no gift cards will be given for those.
Weapons should be transported -- unloaded -- in the trunk of your vehicle, and handguns should be in clear plastic bags. Officers will assist with rifles and shotguns. If you do not want to transport your guns, call the Police Department and arrangements will be made for pick-up.
For more information, visit www.napd.us or contact Lt. Charles Gray at 978-683-3168 or cgray@napd.us.
Charles Ormsby
1:44 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Silliest idea I ever heard. Well, almost the silliest idea.
Read Lott's book "More Guns, Less crime." All this buyback program will do is serve to increase crime in North Andover ... NOT decrease it. If you are silly enough to believe this works, wouldn't it be more sensible to do the buyback in Lawrence ... or Chicago??
If you want to decrease crime in North Andover, you should approach known honest/upstanding citizens and convince them to take a safety course, get permitted and then subsidize their purchase of a gun. I would then be able to sleep even better at night than I do now.
Chuck Ormsby
Michael Quinlan
2:42 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
This seems more like a 'gun disposal' program akin to cleaning out the garage rather than a meaningful attempt to lower 'gun crime' in North Andover. How many crimes were committed by North Andover residents using guns last year? If no violence occurred, how can it be reduced?
Bryan McGonigle2
3:59 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
This is like "Cash for Clunkers" with three differences - 1) its guns rather than cars, 2) its a local program instead of a national one, and 3) its funded privately instead of publicly.
I wonder how a "Cash for Snitches" program would work in practice. If you report a crime (especially if you're not the victim) that the police weren't aware of, you get a reward. The more evidence you produce, the bigger the award. The more severe the crime, the bigger the award. If the evidence stops a crime from happening or reduces the severity of a crime, the bigger the award. If you stop a crime in progress, stop a NewTown from happening, or minimizing the severity of the next NewTown (e.g. by stopping the shooter in his tracks) you hit the jackpot.
Michael Quinlan
8:48 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The neighborhood 'babushkas' of the Soviet Union come to mind. Didn't North Andover have 'volunteer' trash police who would look at your trash bags on the street to see if you weren't recycling to the 'recommended' level? For your own 'education' of course.
Bryan McGonigle2
9:02 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Well ... there are too many laws and they are selectively enforced ... so you make a good point.
On the other hand, there are some serious crimes being committed (not so much in North Andover I hope) or yet to be committed where people with the proper incentives might be able help.
On the third hand ... since this is a government program, it would be a target for abuse ...