I think this is a good option for people if they don’t know what to do with a gun.”įitchburg police department Community Engagement Unit Commander Lt. ![]() “It’s all about the community, you want to be able to work with residents and help take guns off the street that don’t belong there and help keep people safe. “We really want to find the ones that can do damage and that are unsecured,” Kennedy said. Leominster Police Chief Aaron Kennedy said they are happy to be involved in the “good cause” and that they have collected many unwanted weapons over the years. Hirsh said all the participating police departments, including Fitchburg and Leominster, have been “stalwart supporters of ours.” Everyone feels better about making their home safer, and the police are thrilled every time they get a weapon.” “Suicide, domestic violence that turns lethal, inquisitive toddlers that hurt themselves or others. “It’s access to weapons that elevates risks,” he said. ![]() Hirsh said two-thirds of the guns they receive are handguns and half of those are semi-automatic, “really high-quality weapons.” “We are trying to have this be a national day.” “This is like the mustard seed (parable),” Hirsh said. Since then, 25 police organizations in Central Mass., California, Connecticut and New Mexico have joined the effort. When Hirsh came to UMass Memorial Hospital in 1986, gang gun violence was rampant, and when he moved back to the area years later, he launched the Worcester-based program in 2002. Since then, 13,000 firearms have been collected through that Pittsburgh program, which is still going strong. “We are just thrilled that it seems to be having some momentum,” Hirsh said. Through the generosity of financial partners such as Wegmans, the program here has collected nearly 4,000 firearms, which are destroyed, and distributed more than 750 trigger locks to those who still have firearms in their homes. “Sometimes they are not legal, inherited or found in home, and they don’t have permits. “Most people are not there for the reimbursement, they just want to get rid of it,” said program founder and Worcester Department of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Ammunition and firearm accessories will also be accepted, and free gun locks will be available even if you aren’t turning in a gun. Grocery gift cards to Stop & Shop, Price Chopper, Market Basket and more will be distributed - $25 per rifle, $50 per pistol and $75 per automatic or semi-automatic weapon. All guns must be unloaded and wrapped or contained in a bag and anonymity will be ensured. ![]() and the Worcester police headquarters from 9 a.m. This year’s event, sponsored by the UMass Memorial Health Injury Prevention Center, is taking place at the Auburn, Barre, Dudley, Fitchburg, Leominster, Northboro, Northbridge and Spencer police departments on Saturday from 10 a.m. Michael Hirsh with a Japanese WW2 rifle and bayonet turned in a few years ago as part of the annual event that enables people to turn in unwanted, operable firearms in exchange for grocery store gift cards, no questions asked. Goods for Guns Buyback founder and Worcester Department of Public Health Medical Director Dr. 11, with several police departments in the region participating in the program that enables residents to turn in unwanted, working or not, firearms in exchange for grocery store gift cards, no questions asked. The 20th annual Goods for Guns Buyback is taking place Dec.
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