Citizens in Southwest Philadelphia Help 'Groceries for Guns' Reach 1,066 Firearms

From PR/US Newswire:

The popular "Groceries for Guns" initiative organized by Congressman Chaka Fattah and Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown today received its 1,000th firearm -- and kept on going.

The exchange reached the milestone of 1,000 firearms off the streets early this afternoon at Francis Myers Recreation Center, 58th Street and Kingsessing Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia, the city's homicide hotspot. The final totals: 260 firearms turned in today, 1,066 handed over during the year's five exchanges.

"Citywide we have taken more than 1,000 lethal weapons off the streets, out of homes and removed from harm's way," said Congressman Fattah, who created the program as part of Gun Safe Philadelphia. "These are handguns, long guns, sawed-off shotguns, the kind of firearms that have been used in homicides and shootings," Fattah said. "Today we are reducing the number of guns in Southwest Philadelphia by 260 firearms."

Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, who has cosponsored each of the five initiatives, said, "'Groceries for Guns' is a positive way for our citizens to join in efforts to make sure these lethal weapons will no longer pose any kind of a threat. I am pleased to be the partner with Congressman Fattah, many fine community organizations and hundreds of Philadelphians in this initiative."

City Councilman Juan Ramos also joined in support of the April 28 exchange.

"Groceries for Guns" offers to exchange $200 in grocery tokens for any firearm turned in to police, no questions asked, with a limit of $400 in tokens for two or more firearms. Previous exchanges, dating from January, brought in 806 firearms from North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, Germantown and West Oak Lane sites.

In each exchange, Philadelphia police have accepted and disarmed each weapon for eventual destruction.

The 12th Police District, which includes Myers Rec Center, recorded 32 homicides in 2006 -- more than any other police district in Philadelphia.

"Southwest Philadelphia, unfortunately, has the highest homicide total for any section of Philadelphia. We believe there are hundreds of unwanted, dangerous handguns and other firearms that the citizens of the Southwest want to remove from their homes and get out of harm's way," Fattah said. "This won't end gun violence in the Southwest, unfortunately. But 'Groceries for Guns' will be helpful."

Fattah continued, "We're bringing in mostly handguns, the weapon most often used against another human being. These firearms are being removed from people's homes, in exchange for grocery vouchers, so they can no longer be burglarized or otherwise taken out into the streets as instruments of crime."

"Groceries for Guns," sponsored by Congressman Fattah with Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, has drawn participation of numerous cosponsors. They have included Men United for a Better Philadelphia, Mothers in Charge, People for People Inc., plus Radio One and its three FM stations, The Fresh Grocer and Acme.

I'm one of those who thinks that programs such as this one are generally good, but I really do question the results that these programs have in actually reducing violent crime. Honestly, if you want to trade in a weapon for some groceries, that's cool...but who's more likely going to do that? The hardened criminal? Or the law-abiding citizen? Perhaps our resident Philly readers will chime in...