Manhattan D.A.’s Office, NYPD collect 50 surrendered firearms at Harlem gun buyback

An Apple a day keeps the guns away…New Yorkers surrendered 50 firearms in exchange for iPads and prepaid cards this past Saturday for the Manhattan D.A. Office and NYPD’s buyback program at Harlem’s Memorial Baptist Church.

No questions were asked and no I.D. was needed. Handguns and assault rifles netted $200 and a tablet. Shotguns, rifles, and airguns were worth $25 each. 

The cash rewards were paid out in activated, untraceable bank cards and capped out at $600, while iPads were only handed out at one per person. There was no limit to how many guns could be surrendered. 

Five “untraceable” or ghost guns were surrendered, signaling the growing concern about 3D-printed guns which surged over the past year. “This is the sad story of a future of weaponization in our communities,” said D.A. Alvin Bragg. “We are seeing this more and more recently. [There’s a] 75% increase in recovery [of guns made] by printers. For a total of $200, [you can] print these in your home.”

“One gun—one of these that we got back—could be the deadly one,” said 13th District Rep. Adriano Espaillat. “One is too many—50 is a good day, so thank you, D.A. Bragg.”

Espaillat also mentioned his support of the ATF’s crackdown on ghost gun parts, which he aims to codify with his House colleagues. 

Last year, 78 guns—real and fake—were turned in at the Harlem buyback. The event was one of the Manhattan D.A.’s initiatives honoring June as Gun Violence Awareness Month. 

Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E. founder Jackie Rowe-Adams commended the buybacks. “I think they work,” she said. “Some people say they get the money [to buy] new guns. If one gun is off the street, that’s a life that’s saved. We have to continue it…it makes a difference.

Manhattan D.A. Harlem Office Director Courtney Bennett told the Amsterdam News that getting guns off the streets locally was especially crucial.

“Whenever we have a gun buyback in Harlem, we’re inviting people from all over to bring guns here,” he said. “This area here, in particular, has been a hotspot over the years, [especially] around the corner [in] some housing developments, so it’s good that people were able to bring their guns in. We have guns that came in from everywhere. From grandmothers, college students, guys on the street [who] went to politicians [and] community-based organizations [to] ask to bring the guns in for them.” 

Partnering offices told the Amsterdam News the buyback drive was an important measure for a safe summer and violence reduction. 

“I am incredibly grateful to District Attorney Bragg for partnering with our office for this gun buyback in Harlem,” said Councilmember Shaun Abreu. “The data speaks for itself: Fewer guns mean less gun violence, which means fewer families mourning the death of a loved one. If more guns were the answer, the U.S. would be the safest place on Earth. Instead, guns are the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens. It is a policy failure, plain and simple. We need to do everything in our power to get guns off our streets, and this buyback program is a necessary start.”

“Gun violence in our communities and our youth is a concern that’s been one of our top priorities,” said Councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan. “Last year, we partnered with Black Ops to initiate a program called ‘Summer of Hope.’ We went outside in the community, bringing resources, activities, and food; giving the youth an alternative [to] being on the streets. We hope to continue a similar program this year. 

“With that being said, events like the buyback event will foster community engagement and help the community to feel more comfortable [about] turning in firearms. We’ve seen in the past, some of our youth feel uncomfortable walking into precincts to turn in their guns. Having a community event, we hope, will ease that worry while also making our streets a safer place.”

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visitinghttps://bit.ly/amnews1.