(Photo by Thomas Def on Unsplash)
Dec. 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin
The Queens District Attorney’s Office will offer cash to residents who forfeit guns during a gun buy-back event in Astoria Saturday.
Residents with firearms are invited to turn them in and remain completely anonymous— no questions asked.
The event comes at a time when shootings are up in New York City and across Queens.
In Patrol Borough Queens North — which covers precincts in the northern half of the borough from Astoria to Flushing — there were 60 reporting shootings for the year through Nov. 20, up from 39 for the same period a year ago.
There were 24 shootings in the 114th Precinct–which covers Astoria–for the year through Nov. 20, twice as many as the same period in 2019.
DA Melinda Katz said Saturday’s event could help prevent future shootings.
“Every gun turned in this Saturday is a potential tragedy averted,” Katz said in a statement. “This is the public’s opportunity to help us put a stop to bloodshed by turning in firearms.”
?Alert? PBQN is having a Gun Buy Back event on Saturday Dec 5, 2020
in the confines of the 114th Pct. Receive cash ? for guns no questions asked! pic.twitter.com/6aEKMLTg6N— NYPD Queens North (@NYPDQueensNorth) November 25, 2020
The event will be held at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, located at 23-20 Newtown Ave., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The District Attorney’s office, in partnership with the NYPD, will offer a $200 bank card for each operable handgun turned in and a $25 bank card for BB guns, air pistols, rifles and shotguns released. The bank cards can be used as a debit card for purchases or used to withdraw cash at ATMs.
There is a limit of three $200 bank cards per person, but participants can hand over as many guns as they would like.
Participants are required to bring their gun–unloaded–in a paper/plastic bag or shoe box to the church location. If transported by car, the gun must be in the trunk of the vehicle.
Firearms from gun dealers and active or retired law enforcement officials will not be accepted.
This event is being co-sponsored by Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor of the Center of Hope International (COHI), as well as the Community Church of Astoria and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church.
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One Comment
Hi , hope everyone is doing well. I just want to clarify for everyone. If you have followed the law and never purchased an illegal gun you do not get the cash, however if you have broken the law and purchased a firearm illegally you will be rewarded with a gift card.