Syracuse police are expecting hundreds of firearms to be exchanged at an upcoming gun buyback this weekend. A local food pantry is hosting the event Saturday as part of a statewide effort to remove firearms from New York's communities.
Saint Lucy’s Food Pantry on Gifford Street in Syracuse will join eight locations around the state in accepting firearms in exchange for compensation.
Syracuse Police Department Sgt. Thomas Blake said the event can help reduce the volume of guns that can lead to violence crimes, especially as New York's strict gun laws aren't enough to stop the weapons from streaming in from elsewhere.
“Down south, it’s much easier to get your hands on guns like this, so a lot of times, what we’re finding is that these guns are being transported here from further down state," Blake said.
He said stolen handguns are also adding to the problem.
"The other problem is that we have legal gun owners, unfortunately, sometimes they leave handguns in their unsecured cars and they get stolen by people that are rifling through cars or they lose them,” Blake said.
He said the buyback event creates a safe place for residents to get rid of the weapons.
“We set up a place where basically we offer amnesty so folks can bring in rifles, handguns, shotguns, whatever they have that they’d like to turn in," Blake said. "We’ll give them gift cards for doing that and specific amounts depending on what they’re turning over to us.”
The compensation ranges from $500 for an assault rifle to $25 for even a replica gun.
Alternatives to Violence Project Administrator Shirley Way, who has worked with people incarcerated due to violent crime, said the effort can help reduce crime because easy access can be a conduit to violence.
“Guns were readily available and offered and somebody bought an assault rifle and he says once you get it, you’re going to use it – and he did," she said. "It would be helpful if there were not so many guns available.”
Syracuse last held a gun buyback in May and receive 240 firearms. Blake expects the numbers to be even higher this year, especially the amount of ghost guns brought in.
