Description
Community and faith-based organizations, five greater Boston area police departments (Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, Somerville and Watertown) and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will partner to host the county’s first regional gun buyback initiative in June.
The regional initiative - modeled on successful efforts in Cambridge and several other communities in Middlesex County over the past three years - is focused on providing residents with a safe and secure way of removing unwanted firearms from their homes. Buyback events will occur throughout the month of June, beginning on June 11 in Cambridge, Arlington and Belmont, continuing on June 18 in Watertown and concluding on June 25 in Somerville.
The City of Cambridge will have one drop-off location for the gun buyback session on Saturday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Pentecostal Tabernacle parking lot, 77 Columbia St. Volunteers and public safety officers will accept any unloaded and stored (bag, box or case) firearms. The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office and Massachusetts State Police will safely destroy all turned in firearms. A gift card ranging from $50-$200 in value will be provided for each firearm received. A $5 ice cream gift card will be provided to any children who turn in any toy guns.
“Nationwide, more than 20,000 people commit suicide with a firearm and another 16,000 are injured in unintentional shootings each year,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “Providing residents with an avenue to safely dispose of unwanted firearms makes our communities – and especially our homes – safer, and we are proud to support our partners in this effort.”
According to the most recent data available from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 115 Massachusetts residents died as a result of a firearm-related suicide in 2013.
“This initiative represents a powerful opportunity for individuals, organizations, and houses of faith to come together to create safer homes and safer communities,” said Lori Lander, founding organizer at Many Helping Hands.
“By having an unwanted firearm in a home, children, people with mental illness and those at risk of domestic violence can be at risk of a preventable tragedy,” said Acting Commissioner Christopher Burke of the Cambridge Police Department, which hosted its first gun buyback event last year. “With each of the five communities pulling together and collaborating regionally, we recognize that there can be a greater impact in our respective cities and towns.”
Officials believe the regional approach will provide residents with additional opportunities to remove these unwanted firearms from their homes. Residents of the five communities can turn in unwanted firearms at any of the sites.
Since October 2013, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office has provided support to gun buyback initiatives in seven communities including four of the five communities participating in the regional initiative. In total, 299 unwanted firearms were turned in during the previous events.
There are a variety of ways for the community to participate in this program, including volunteering. For more information and to find out how you can become involved, please visit https://camb.ma/giftcardsforguns.
Sponsored by the following Cambridge interfaith & community partners:
A Place to Heal Ministries, Abundant Life Church, Cambridgeport Baptist Church, Cambridge Community Fellowship Church, Cambridge Community Center, Cambridge Community Foundation, Cambridge Peace Commission, Cambridge Police Department, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge YWCA, Congregation Eitz Chayim, Christ Church, East End House, First Church in Cambridge Congregational, First Holiness Church, Islamic Society of Boston, Journey Church, Many Helping Hands, Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, Massachusetts State Police, Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, Pentecostal Tabernacle, Reservoir Church, Rush AME Zion Church, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Temple Beth Shalom, Union Baptist Church and our many generous donors.