City Offers Money for Guns

New Yorkers will be encouraged to bring their guns, both illegally and legally obtained, to church this Saturday as part of a buyback program organized by the police department and the Brooklyn district attorney.

People who bring handguns, rifles, or shotguns to six participating churches in central Brooklyn will receive a $200 ATM card for each firearm handed over. Participants can bring as many guns as they wish, but will only be paid for a maximum of three. Police will later destroy the firearms.

The one-day event is not unlike city-organized buybacks in the past. In 1999, a buyback at police stations netted about 600 guns while a 2000 buyback at an office building in Brooklyn brought in about 650 firearms. According to the Brooklyn district attorney, Charles Hynes, city officials are hoping that holding a buyback in churches will boost participation by providing a less intimidating setting.

At a press conference in Brooklyn yesterday, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said that participants would be kept anonymous and that the event would not be used to collect information for other investigations.

According to Mr. Kelly, the city has budgeted $300,000 to spend on guns at the event.

"We hope we run out of money this weekend," Mr. Kelly said. "We want this to get as many guns off the street as possible."