New Yorkers turn in 78 guns at Harlem buyback program

AMSTERDAM NEWS

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, hosted a successful gun buyback event in Harlem at the Soul Saving Station church. The event, organized by the Oyate Group, a local anti-poverty nonprofit, collected 78 firearms, ranging from peashooters to semi-automatics. Participants received prepaid Visa gift cards for turning in guns, with operable guns or assault rifles receiving $500 certificates, rifles and shotguns getting $150, and BB guns or imitation guns receiving $50. The buyback was anonymous and confidential, allowing anyone to turn in a firearm without fear of investigation. The collected weapons will be melted down by the NYPD at an undisclosed location. The event’s success was attributed to outreach efforts by credible messengers who shared their personal experiences with incarceration and gang violence to mentor at-risk youth. By removing about 70 guns from the streets, the initiative aims to address gun violence proactively and make Manhattan and Harlem safer.

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