HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-24-09 Gun Buy Back
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
1pm
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Dir. of Communications & Special Projects,574- 235-5855 or 876-1564
Julie DeKeizer, Mishawaka Mayor’s Office, 574-258-160
Lynn Coleman, Assistant Mayor – South Bend, 574-235-9261
“Bury a gun, not your son”
Community leaders from across St. Joseph County stood together today to announce the
2009 Gun Buy Back Program, a collaborative partnership to reduce gun violence in our
cities and towns. The theme for this year’s effort is “Bury a gun, not your son”. The
effort is again led by C.U.R.E – Community United Religious Effort with community
partners including the City of South Bend, City of Mishawaka, and Healthy Communities
Initiative. Dennis Engbrecht, of Bethel College and Keith Witherspoon, Pastor of
Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church are serving as Co-Chairmen of the Gun Buy Back
Initiative. Joining with the community partners, Mayor Jeff Rea stated, I am excited that
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our citizens will again have the opportunity to participate in this important community
activity. The Gun Buy-back program was very successful last time and exceeded our
expectations. Because of it, we were able to get a lot of guns off of the street, making
those streets safer for our citizens. We look forward to supporting this effort and doing all
that we can to make the streets of Mishawaka and our surrounding area safer for our
citizens and their families.”
This is the second time that C.U.R.E has sponsored the Gun Buy Back Program. The last
program, offered in 2007, was very successful. At that time, organizers had hoped to
collect 100 guns and in the end, actually gathered 256 weapons. “Based upon the success
of a previous Gun-Buy-Back in August of 2007, we believe that a subsequent initiative to
remove guns that could well end up in the wrong hands and on the streets of our
community can only benefit the children, young adults, and families of our
neighborhoods,” noted Rev. Keith Witherspoon and Dr. Dennis D. Engbrecht, CURE Co-
Chairpersons. “To do nothing is not an acceptable option.”
-more-
Page 2.
2009 Program - June 13, from 10 am – 3pm at three locations:
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Mishawaka – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 616 Lincoln Way East
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South Bend – No. 2 Fire Station, corner of Lincoln Way West and
Martin Luther King Blvd.
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St. Joseph County – Penn Twp Fire Station #2, 13750 McKinley
Highway, Mishawaka
PROCEDURES:
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Anonymous drop-off at any of the three locations
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Guns must be unloaded
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Any type of gun is accepted
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Gift cards will be provided (while they last) - Amount of gift card will
depend on the condition and value of the gun, up to a maximum of $75.
A critical key to the success of the program are the gift cards that are awarded to those
turning in guns. In 2007, one individual turned in twenty guns. The Gun Buy Back
committee is seeking cash donations which will be used to purchase gift cards from area
merchants. Over the next two months the committee will be actively seeking donations
from individuals, businesses, or faith-based organizations, for the gift cards. Donations
to C.U.R.E. can be sent to:
Joe Radzikowski
Healthy Communities Initiative
401 E. Colfax, Suite 310
South Bend, In 46617.
Checks should be made payable to Health Communities Initiative (HCI)
Recognizing that there are many people who want to get rid of their guns, but just don't
know how to go about it, this program can help. “Rather than risking the possibility of
having the guns end up on the street, residents now have a simple way to get them out
their home and avoid the potential for violence,” stated Mayor Luecke. “This program
can be especially helpful for older adults who may have guns in their home and are afraid
to touch them. Gun buy back programs have been successful in other cities around the
country. Offering this program sends a message that our community is committed to
getting guns off the street and out of our community.”
In addition, for one week before the Gun Buy Back day, residents who are unable to
bring in their gun(s) can call either the South Bend, Mishawaka, or St. Joseph county
police departments to arrange for pickup of unwanted guns.
Police won't ask for identification and won't do background checks on the people who
turn in a weapon. All the weapons accumulated during gun buy-backs are melted down
and destroyed at an area foundry.
Established in 1997 in response to increased incidents of shootings in local communities,
C.U.R.E. provides a forum for faith-based ministries, service organizations, and civic
leaders to address various means of promoting racial harmony and non-violent conflict
resolution in the greater St. Joseph County area.
For additional information, please call 574-239-8585 or 574-257-3530.
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