GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM

 

         If you asked someone in your community the best way to reduce violent crime, what do you think their answer would be?  A popular answer would likely be to get guns off the streets.  Well, this past month, we took a great step towards accomplishing this difficult feat!  Thanks to a new Gun Buyback program run by my office, the NYPD and six local pastors, last month resulted in 697 guns being turned in at six Brooklyn churches selected as drop off points.  A huge success!  That is 697 guns that will now be melted down and turned into coat hangers that could have been used in crimes such as robberies, burglaries, assaults and murders.  The program was such a success that we will be repeating it in September.

 

         The havoc created and the lives lost because of senseless gun violence in our communities is destructive to us all.  All too often we hear tragic stories about a young person whose life was cut short or who was seriously injured because a coward chose to settle an argument or a perceived slight with a gun.  Our pastors have officiated over too many funerals and ministered to too many grieving family members for us all not to be moved to do something about the proliferation of guns on our streets. 

 

   If there were less guns on the streets, then it follows that there would also be less crime.  There are numerous pieces of legislation being proposed on gun control.  But the truth is that sometimes it can be very easy for people to get their hands on a gun.  Obviously, many gun owners will not just voluntarily get rid of their guns.  I wish it was that easy.  Often, these illegal guns end up in the hands of criminals or they are sold to teenagers.  So, with U.S. Rep. Edolphus Towns and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, I met with six of the churches in northern and central Brooklyn to discuss this problem.  The outcome was the formation of our Gun Buyback program. It is a great example of how different agencies and well meaning community leaders can come together to solve serious problems that effect our daily lives.

 

  The Gun Buyback program offers a $200 cash reward for each eligible weapon surrendered.  The person who brings the weapon in remains anonymous and will never be charged with possession of an illegal gun in connection with that action, even if the gun is eventually connected to a crime.  Out of the 697 guns that we collected, there were we 204 revolvers, 193 pistols, 226 rifles/shotguns, 12 assault weapons, 25 sawed-off shotguns, and 37 BB guns/pellet guns.  Imagine the carnage that could be caused by such an arsenal.  As of July 14, there were 95 homicides in Brooklyn, compared to 111 homicides during the same period in 2007, a reduction of 14%.  Of those homicides, in 2008, 62.1% were by guns.  In comparison, by this point in 2007 year to date, 73.9% of the homicides were by guns.

 

   The bank cards, issued by Chase Bank, could be used as a debit card or money could be withdrawn at any ATM. There was no limit to the number of guns participants could surrender, but they would only be paid for three.  Handguns, rifles

and shotguns were accepted. Functional BB guns and air pistols were also collected in exchange for a $20 bank card.  Also, no guns would be accepted from active or retired law-enforcement officials

 

We are lucky to have so many people in our community who are active and passionate about reducing violent crime.  I cannot thank our partners enough for opening their churches for this worthy cause and using their pulpit to encourage members of their congregations and their friends and families to surrender handguns. I would like to personally thank the pastors of the six churches who participated in this program: Pastor Randolph Ferdinand, Helping Hands Ministries; Rev. A.D. Lyons, First Baptist Church of Brownsville; Rev. Jacob N. Underwood, Grace Baptist Church; Pastor Daran Mitchell, First AME Zion Church; Pastor Clarence Williams, Southern Baptist Church; and Pastor Clinton Miller, Brown Memorial Baptist Church.

 

Funding for the event was provided jointly, by my office and the NYPD.  Chief Assistant District Attorney Amy Feinstein and Program Coordinator Joseph Jones led this program.

 

JOSEPH JONES

 

 

Joseph Jones is a Pastor and the Boro-Wide Clergy Liaison for the District Attorney’s Office, overseeing all houses of worship in Brooklyn regardless of denomination.  He is also the Community Specialist for the Brownsville area.

 

Prior to working in the District Attorney’s Office, Rev. Jones served in the U.S. Marine Corps where he was honorably discharged with the rank of Private First Class.  He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology and his Master’s Degree in Theology and Divinity from the Lighthouse Community College.  He also received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Alliance Bible Seminary.

 

Aside from his work at the DA’s Office, Rev. Jones is the Co-Pastor of the Greater Zion Shiloh B.C., where his father is the Senior Pastor.  He is a vigorous advocate for the proper education of our youth, believing that no child should be left behind, left out or lost in any way.  He has taken on the voluntary role of being a speaker for several elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools during his work with the Legal Lives program managed by the District Attorney’s Office.

 

Rev. Jones has worked in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for the last 26 years in a variety of positions. He has taken on the role as Supervisor of the Summons room for Brooklyn, which provides aid and orders of protection for Domestic Violence victims. He was also the former Assistant Director of the Citizen’s Action Bureau and the Director of the Project Respect Program, S.T.A.R. Program (Saving Teens At Risk) and the E.P.I.C. Program (Ending Prostitution In Our Communities) for the D.A.’s office. He is also the Project Director of Project Re-Direct which aids youth involved in any gang activity to give up their colors and assists them in getting back into school, mentoring, monitoring, and in some cases, provides jobs and job training.  Rev. Jones works with many community, religious and judicial leaders to discuss the problems in the community and find ways to solve these problems. 

 

He is a member of the N.Y. Missionary Baptist Assoc., Inc. and was recently appointed as the Chairman for the Religious Affairs Committee for the NAACP.  Rev. Jones labors tirelessly to provide opportunities and information to enlighten our youth, while giving assistance and information to anyone who needs it regardless of the problem.