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Photos: "Wallet Gun" Among Guns Turned In At Brooklyn Gun Buyback
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 16, 2012
Modified Dec 17, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 16, 2012
Modified Dec 17, 2012
Share
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Yesterday, the NYPD and Brooklyn DA's office held a gun buyback at two Brooklyn churches. The event was scheduled before the terrible mass shooting that left 26 people dead—20 of them children ages 6 and 7—at a Connecticut school, but the shooting was on people's minds. One man told the NY Times that the massacre prompted him to take a .38-caliber gun he found in his grandson's drawer, "I did the right thing."
Another grandmother who turned in a relative's .22-caliber pistol told the Post the horror at Sandy Hook Elementary "inspired me to come by. It should inspire everyone. We’ve got to protect our children. I couldn’t wait for today to come so I could get rid of it. The shooting yesterday was an eye-opener. It was bone-chilling."
The police asked the media to stay away from the sites "because of the deterrent effect on participants who anticipate being able to surrender guns without being publicly identified. Further, we ask media outlets who covered today's buyback that they refrain from publishing or broadcasting images of participants." The Post did publish a photograph of Natasha Christopher, whose 15-year-old son Akeal was shot the day after graduating middle school this past summer (he died of his injuries week two weeks later). She wanted to support the buyback, "It has to stop. I know what they’re going through."
The police gave stats on what was turned in: "80 revolvers; 31 semi-automatic pistols; 4 rifles; 3 shotguns; 1 sawed-off shotgun; 15 others (BBs, zips, starter pistols)." Those turning in guns were given $200 debit cards, those turning in non-functioning firearms were given $20. The NYPD added, "Some of the more notable firearms surrendered were a .22 Magnum Derringer "wallet gun"; a Beretta model 84 .380 caliber; a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum."
Tagged
brooklyn
gun buyback
gun violence
newtown
newtown shooting
nypd
rifle
wallet gun
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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