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Gift cards given in return for guns
By Kathy Antoniotti
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008
Goods for Guns, a program initiated last year to get guns off Akron area streets, is unlikely to take in as many firearms this week as its sponsors had hoped.
More donations are needed by Friday if the program is to bring in as many guns as it did in 2007.
''We're only at about $65,000 [in donations] — that's about half of what we need,'' Christine Croce said Wednesday.
Croce is executive director of administration for the Summit County Sheriff's Office and secretary/treasurer of Crimestoppers Inc., two agencies that co-sponsor the gun buyback program along with the Akron Police Department.
She said there's only enough money to buy gift cards from Acme Fresh Markets for the first 650 guns turned in Friday or Saturday at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church.
The agencies had hoped to raise enough money to buy back 1,200 guns. Last year, 950 were turned in before the organizers ran out of cards.
Because of the limited number of gift cards available, Croce said people who want to turn in guns should plan on bringing them to either of the church's campuses — at 270 E. Wilbeth Road and 1225 Vernon Odom Blvd. — as early as possible.
''People should get there on Friday because we probably will run out of gift cards before Saturday,'' Croce said.
Police will be on hand to accept and secure the weapons from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days, or until they run out of gift cards.
Lt. Charles Brown, commander of community relations for the Akron Police Department, said it's a shame that a lack of funding should prevent the program from taking in as many guns as possible.
''With the holiday season approaching and people inviting guests into their homes, they want to make sure any firearms won't be picked up by the wrong hands,'' he said. '' . . . It's sad we won't be able to get more guns off the streets and out of people's homes.''
Brown said those who participate won't be asked to identify themselves, but they must bring in a working gun to get a gift card.
''We won't ask anyone to show they work,'' he said, ''but they must be operable.''
Kathy Antoniotti can be reached at 330-996-3565 or kantoniotti@thebeaconjournal.com.
Goods for Guns, a program initiated last year to get guns off Akron area streets, is unlikely to take in as many firearms this week as its sponsors had hoped.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 12:51 PM, 11/20/2008
HEY OLD LADY I'LL TRADE YOU A HUNDRED DOLLAR GIFT CARD FOR THAT TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR FIRE ARM. I'LL BET THE PD HAS SEEN SOME VERY EXPENSIVE GUNS TURNED IN BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE WORTH. I'D THINK AGAIN ABOUT THIS TRADE IN BUISNESS. I'M SURE THE ONES TRADING GUNS FOR GIFT CARDS COULD SURELY USE MORE THAN A HUNDRED DOLLAR GIFT CARD. HECK I'LL GIVE THEM 200.00 A GUN.
