NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Hoping to quell the city’s rampant gun violence, New Orleans city councilmember Freddie King III and others organized a citywide gun buyback event on Saturday (August 13) at St. Stephen’s Baptist in Algiers.
Residents lined up to exchange dozens of handguns and rifles in an effort to get weapons on the streets and reduce crime. Weapons deliverers receive a pre-loaded cash gift card that can be used anywhere credit and debit cards are accepted.
King said the goal is to help reduce violent crime by buying back guns from residents without judgment and without question. King said he knows New Orleans residents are fed up with violence and that the problem extends far beyond his county, extending from Algiers to the French Quarter and Marigny.
“It’s not just Algiers. It’s not just District C. It’s not just the West Coast,” said King. “That’s the whole city. And we’re just trying to do our little part of putting our guns on the street. “
Like many others, King said he has also been directly affected by the city’s violent crime.
“Unfortunately, just last week, I was at this very church at the funeral for a man like my brother who was killed by gun violence,” King said.
Event partners for the acquisition include Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Congressman Troy Carter, New Orleans Police Department, Urban Crime Commission, Zulu Fun & Social Aid Club, School of Sale Public InspireNOLA and the Algiers Charter. King said he plans to host more gun buyback events in the future.
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