Pensacola City Council moves forward to launch gun buy-back program
The Pensacola City Council unanimously voted Thursday to move forward with a gun buy-back program. Residents will be able to sell guns to the police with no questions asked for money or a gift card.
Pensacola City Council voted 7- 0 supporting Councilmember Delarian Wiggin’s call for the gun buy-back initiative.
“I’ve been in law enforcement for 15 years, and I have seen a lot of gun violence,” said Wiggins. Wiggins thinks getting guns off of the streets will reduce crime in the city.
The city will partner with the Pensacola Police Department to make it happen.
“It’s very difficult to tell a mother that their son was killed by gun violence. I don’t want this to ever happen again. if I have to do every necessary step to make sure this gun violence works– I will put on my boots and do whatever it takes,” said Wiggins.
Channel 3 talked to community members that are supportive of the initiative.
“You don’t know who it belongs to. The wrong person could find it and you turn it in… that’s a life that could be saved,” Mya Muldowney, community member.
“It sounds like a good idea on paper,” said Alexander Meeks, community member.
But some councilmembers like Sherri Myers are skeptical of the gun buy-back program.
She supported the idea but says studies show that gun buy-backs do not necessarily reduce violence.
“I don’t want the community, in my district, to be under the impression that this is all we need to do to reduce crime,” Myers says.
An exact dollar amount for how much each gun is worth has yet to be set. But under similar programs in other cities, participants have shown to get $50 for a handgun and up to $100 for a long gun.
“I think taking any guns off the streets and out of the hands of a violent offender is a win-win for our community, said Councilman Wiggins.
“The council says these guns will be ballistic-tested to make sure there were not used in any crimes. Also, the serial numbers will also be screened to see if the guns are stolen.
