2006 Boston Gun Buyback

"Behind the guns, many stories"

Boston Globe, City Weekly section, 7/23/2006

"Tragedy, danger spurred people to turn them in"

Read the article here.

Buyback collects 1,000 firearms!

“AIM FOR PEACE” PROGRAM COLLECTS 1,000 FIREARMS!

Program Ends, Message of Peace Continues

Today, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Acting Commissioner Al Goslin, in conjunction with the Boston Police Department and numerous community and faith-based organizations, is pleased to announce that the 2006 Boston Gun Buyback “Aim For Peace” was a major success. “Aim For Peace” has taken 1,000 firearms off the streets of Boston.

"The Ways of the Gun"

"Massachusetts has some of the country’s toughest gun laws. So why is Boston flooded with firearms? The answer lies with the city’s thriving black market for illegal weapons, where the law that matters most is the ruthless logic of supply and demand."

Read the article from Boston Magazine's May 2006 issue.
They also have some exclusive stats showing where 2004 & 2005 guns were traced to.

The Boston Buyback is part of Red Sox Nation!

Official Press Release
7/1/2006

City’s Gun Buyback Program Gets Major Boost by Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox today joined Mayor Thomas M. Menino to announce a $25,000 donation to the Boston Police Department’s 2006 Boston Gun Buyback “Aim For Peace.” The program has already taken more than 525 operational firearms off the street.

“This donation from the Red Sox will help continue this important program that is taking guns off our streets. Stopping the violence in our neighborhoods takes more than just a police response – it takes all of us working together,” Mayor Menino said. “Once again, the Red Sox have stepped up to the plate for the community.”

Boston Metro - ‘We aren’t going to stop now’

‘We aren’t going to stop now’
But city’s gun buyback program running out of funds
Boston METRO, 6/30/2006

BOSTON City officials are desperately reaching out to the community and businesses in a last ditch effort to raise money for the gun buyback program, which is slowly running out of funds with almost two weeks left.

Already, more than 525 guns have been turned in at police stations and community centers citywide since the program began on June 12. In exchange for guns, people receive $200 Target gift cards, and at this point, the city has gone through more than $75,000, according to Boston Police Deputy Superintendent Darren Greeley.

“Aim for Peace” program yields over 380 firearms and counting!

Official Press Release
For Immediate Release
June 24, 2006

“AIM FOR PEACE” PROGRAM YIELDS OVER 380 FIREARMS AND COUNTING!
Program Launches High Tech Initiatives to Maximize Participation

Today, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Superintendent in Chief Al Goslin, in conjunction with the Boston Police Department and numerous community and faith-based organizations, is pleased to announce that the 2006 Boston Gun Buyback “Aim For Peace” is exceeding expectations. As of today, the program has netted 382 firearms.

“The gun buyback program is off to an encouraging start,” Mayor Menino said. “We are confident that this program is sending a strong message that violence on the streets of Boston will not be tolerated.I am pleased that the community is coming forward in this effort to get guns off the streets and I look forward to the continued success of the program.”

Boston Banner: Aim for Peace hits target, but more solutions needed

Aim for Peace hits target, but more solutions needed
6/22/2006
by Alex Bloom

One week into the new citywide Aim For Peace gun buyback program, city officials are already impressed with results. The buyback, which started June 12, collected 92 guns in the first two days and 127 in the first week.

“It’s incredible,” said Deputy Superintendent Darrin Greeley last week. “95 percent of those turning in guns are Boston residents. We’re trying to keep it to Boston residents.”

City of Boston Credit Union Joins Aim For Peace

Their press release, 6/22/2006:

The City of Boston Credit Union takes a stand against gun violence by becoming a Community Partner in the City of Boston’s “Aim For Peace” Campaign. The Credit Union has donated $5,000 to support the efforts of the 2006 Boston Gun Buyback program.

“Aim For Peace” Exceeding Expectations, Need For Funding Increases

from bpdnews.com, the Boston Police Department blog...

Mayor Menino, The Boston Police Department and our Buyback Community Partners wish to extend our gratitude to the City of Boston Credit Union for their generous donation of $5,000. The continued support of charitable donors is crucial to the ultimate success of this program. As of today, the program has collected more than 250 firearms and that number continues to grow.

Businesses or individuals wishing to support the program and take a gun off the street can send contributions to:

BuyBack Program
c/o Ten Point Coalition
215 Forest Hills Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(p) 617-524-4331

Every dollar will be used to purchase gift cards in exchange for guns taken off the streets.

Boston Buyback is news in the Dominican Republic

from Diario Libre Online...

Estados Unidos

Buen cambio

Boston. La ciudad de Boston ha puesto en marcha un programa mediante el que recompensará con cheques de regalo de 200 dólares a los ciudadanos que entreguen una pistola. El programa, anunciado esta semana por el ayuntamiento, pretende retirar cientos de armas de las calles.

Buyback Billboards unveiled

Mayor Menino, Boston Police Superintendent-in-Chief Albert E. Goslin, Deputy Superintendent Darrin Greeley, and Gun Buyback activists met on Washington Street in Roxbury, near Egleston Square, to thank ClearChannel and unveil the first of 30 donated ClearChannel billboards around the city.

Representing ClearChannel was their Boston Outdoor President Drew Hoffman, accompanied by his family.

Media coverage included Fox 25, The Ten O'Clock News (WB56); NECN, 7News and others. However, the Herald and Globe did not print coverage of the event, and the Globe got the number of guns received this week completely wrong (they reported 36!), in a mention of the Buyback in a story about a Friday night shooting.

Dorchester Reporter: Mothers rally...

Photo: Patrick McGroarty/Dorchester Reporter

DOTNEWS.COM WEB EXCLUSIVE
Mothers rally to push for more careful tracking of firearms at Bowdoin St. rally
June 15, 2006
By Patrick McGroarty
Reporter Staff

Janet Conor's son was murdered in 2001. Genevor Monell's oldest son Ernesto spent seven years in prison on gun-related charges, only to be released and then re-incarcerated on another gun conviction.

On Thursday morning, Conor and Monell stood side by side with other mothers who have lost their sons to violence or prison to call on police and government officials to trace the flow of handguns into their children's hands.

Dorchester Reporter: Gun buyback nets 92 guns in first two days

Gun buyback nets 92 guns in first two days
June 15, 2006
By Patrick McGroarty
Reporter Staff

The "Aim for Peace" gun buyback officially began at noon on Monday, and by 7 p.m. on Tuesday 92 working handguns had been turned over to the Boston Police Department.

The department also collected a small number of rifles, shotguns, and badly damaged handguns, weapons that did not qualify for the $200 Target gift card.

"The response has been overwhelming," said Elaine Driscoll, director of media relations for the BPD. Approximately 100 people had called the buyback hotline by Monday afternoon, said Driscoll, asking where they could drop off a weapon or requesting that a cruiser be sent to their house for an individual pick-up.

Billboard press conference Friday 6/16 at 10 AM

Community activists, organizations, residents and youth are invited to attend a press conference in Roxbury to unveil one of many billboards donated by ClearChannel to publicize the Buyback. Mayor Menino and others will speak.

(PS to in-school youth - Do not skip for this event!)

Contact us for the location and further info.

Gun control activist John Rosenthal's FULL position on Buybacks

Gun control activist John Rosenthal was interviewed by local news media on Monday 6/12. The coverage may have implied that he's against the Buyback. Here's his full statement, direct from John:

"In the past law enforcement has said gun buyback programs tended not to get the right guns off the street...I applaud the effort by the Mayor and community. In the absence of effective national gun policies to reduce gun access by kids and criminals I support any local gun violence prevention initiative and hope this buyback works better than the last and I'm glad the program no longer includes a cash for gun component ...

My fear is that for every gun turned in another 100 come over the border from Maine, NH, and Vermont which are among the 32 states that don't even require criminal background checks for all gun sales. Boston and every other big City is relatively powerless to control the influx of guns when federal gun policy is intended to provide for relatively unrestricted access to all guns without even criminal background checks or stiff federal gun trafficking statutes"

John Rosenthal

Gun Buyback Exceeding All Expectations: Real Guns = Real Results

6/14/2006 Official Press Release

Program Partners Asking Local Corporations to Donate Funds
Every dollar received will be used to purchase gift cards in exchange for guns taken off the streets.

The new Boston Gun Buyback Program is off to a strong start. As of this morning (June 14,2006), we have collected 100 firearms turned into police and community drop-off locations. As a result of the program’s success, funds for gift cards are running low. This is a “call to action” for local corporations to join our efforts to decrease youth violence and take guns off the streets of Boston.

“These are high-powered handguns that are used every day in crimes in our city”, commented Boston Police Deputy Superintendent Darrin Greeley. “Young men from the neighborhoods hardest hit by violence are laying down their arms in a major step towards peace.”

On Tuesday June 13th, a Ruger .22 caliber assault rifle with 2 high capacity clips was turned at a Hyde Park drop-off location. At a Dorchester site, an individual turned in a .45 semi-automatic in perfect condition. Monday’s collection included a .40 caliber Sig Sauer, a 9 mm Smith & Wesson, a .25 caliber handgun (all from young men of color in their twenties), and 2 handguns were turned into a minister in Grove Hall by a grandmother who found them in her grandson’s room.

“These are not junk guns from someone’s attic,” stated Jorge Martinez of Project Right, one of the community partners of the Buyback program. “Critics can feel free to live in our neighborhoods for a week and see if they’re happy to have these deadly weapons off the street.”

Mayor Thomas Menino, the Boston Police and community partners have developed a tight program, which effectively reaches out to Boston residents and turns away guns that are not in good condition.

“We will accept rifles and shotguns, but are not giving out gift cards for them,” stated Deputy Greeley. “At this rate we will run out of gift cards by end of today because participation in the program is so strong.”

Businesses or individuals wishing to support the program and take a gun off the street can send contributions to:

BuyBack Program
c/o Ten Point Coalition
215 Forest Hills Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(p) 617-524-4331

Every dollar will be used to purchase gift cards in exchange for guns taken off the streets.

Boston Herald - Gun buyback starts with bang in Hub

Gun buyback starts with bang in Hub
By Michele McPhee
Boston Herald Police Bureau Chief
Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - Updated: 12:32 AM EST

A Roxbury grandmother was the first to take part in Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s gun buyback program yesterday, after she walked up to a minister on Warren Street with two gym socks bulky with illegal weapons.

One sock contained a .22 semiautomatic handgun; the other a .25 mm. Both weapons were found in her grandsons’ bedroom, said Chris Sumner, executive director of the Ten Point Coalition.

“She was worried about her grandkids,” Sumner said.

The guns were among 36 handguns turned in at police stations and community centers yesterday as the city’s rejuvenated program began its first day, Menino said at a news conference in front of the Hyde Square Task Force office in Jamaica Plain, where four guns were turned in.

Another eight were collected from people in East Boston and more than a dozen came from Dorchester. The other weapons were turned in from community members in Roxbury and Mattapan, the areas hardest hit by gun violence.

Sumner, who toured the drop-off centers with BPD Deputy Superintendent Darrin Greeley, said the guns came from grandmothers, mothers, and a diverse group demographic of men.

“These are the types of guns we want. The guns turned in were the ones typically carried and concealed by teenagers. Sexy, shiny guns,” Sumner said.

Menino called the first day of the gun buyback program, which grants amnesty to anyone who turns in a weapon and provides the donor with a $200 Target gift card, a “good kickoff.”

“The heat is on,” Menino said.

The start of the program comes as Boston’s shooting incidents continue to soar. There have been 181 people shot on city streets from Jan. 1 to June 11, according to Boston police statistics.

Of those, 21 victims died.

During the same period in 2005 - which marked Boston’s bloodiest year in a decade - there were 13 people shot dead and another 88 wounded, making the total hit by bullets 101.