Camden's record gun buyback

POSTED: Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 9:45 AM

An Uzi 9mm submachine gun -- the sort that can fire 600 rounds a minute -- was one of the 1,137 firearms surrendered for cash in Camden just before and immediately after the slaughter in Newtown, Ct..

Four other automatic assault weapons also were turned in, N.J. Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said. The annual buyback was open to gun owners throughout Camden County; the number of guns amassed dwarfed last year's total of 57.

The latest arsenal of mass destruction to be taken off the streets was displayed Tuesday during a press conference by Chiesa, Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson, city Mayor Dana Redd and other officials.

"The word is, 'overwhelmed,'" Redd tells me, describing her reaction to seeing the array of weaponry. "But I'm also elated the program was a success.

"You will always have people who react with pessimism, but one or 1,000 is that many guns off the street," the mayor says, adding that the buy-back is one of several efforts. The city also is participating in the White House National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, Redd notes.

PHOTO: April Saul, Philadelphia Inquirer

Kevin Riordan @ 9:45 AM Permalink | 4 comments

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Comments (4)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:21 AM, 12/19/2012

This is great news! I can now walk anywhere in Camden without fear of getting shot.

— LouDiamondPhillipsheadScrewdriver

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:38 PM, 12/19/2012

So, five automatic (therefore illegal) weapons were turned in, no questions asked!
Was any of those guns run through the system to see if they were reported stolen, so their lawful owner could recover it?
Was any of those guns run throug ballistics, to see if a match could be made with a bullet pulled from a murder victim?
Answer to all the questions: NO!
So, the gun buyback was not really an effective crime-reduction activity. It was a way for criminals to do away with incriminating evidence.

— DonQ

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:05 PM, 12/19/2012

Nearly the same amount as was turned in last year, yet you've STILL had a record number of murders!!! HOW IS THIS A SUCCESS????

— SuziSaul

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:08 PM, 12/19/2012

Sorry my mistake I read that wrong...thought they said 57 more than last year lol

— SuziSaul

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Blinq is a news commentary blog featuring contributions from Inquirer Metro columnists Karen Heller, Annette John-Hall, Kevin Riordan, Daniel Rubin and Monica Yant Kinney.

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