Maya McFadden Photo
Pina Violano of Yale New Haven Health at Monday’s announcement.
The Hamden Police Department will host its first-ever gun buyback and safety event on Saturday to remove unwanted and unsecured guns from community homes.
The Hamden Police Department and its partners plan to follow in the footsteps of the New Haven Police Department’s (NHPD) gun buyback initiative. The NHPD started its buyback initiative in 2011. New Haven now works with a nonprofit to convert the guns into gardening tools; Hamden plans to do the same.
The amount of the gift cards people receive in return for their weapons will depend on the type of gun brought in.
Cops and fellow organizers will be at the corner of Whitney and Dixwell from 10 a.m‑2 p.m Saturday near the Hamden police department collecting the firearms. The guns and ammunition are to be delivered separately in clear plastic bags. The delivery is to be 100 percent anonymous. A limited supply of free gun locks and car safes will be offered to those who can provide proof of a valid pistol permit.
“The NHPD initiative has very much been a model for us,” Hamden PD Chief John Cappiello said at a press conference held Monday afternoon at headquarters.
Adam Sendroff, Hamden’s community development manager, helped to organize the event with Yale New Haven Hospital, the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of New haven, the NHPD, and the Newtown Action Alliance.
Organizers said they are optimistic about the success of the upcoming event.
“Even one firearm collected means that it will never fall into the wrong hands and have the potential of ever harming anybody,” said Sendroff.
Hamden Police Chief John Cappiello.
Planning for the event began about 10 months ago in an effort to provide increased community awareness of the importance of firearm storage.
The event will commemorate the second anniversary of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, while also promoting safe firearm storage.
While community members can be responsible gun owners at home, many are not with the firearms in their vehicles, said Hamden Mayor Leng. The initiative will help residents be responsible gun owners across the board.
A demonstration will be presented on the transformation and recycling of the weapons into gardening tools, along with demonstrations on securing firearms.
Dr. Pina Violano of Yale New Haven hospital has worked with the NHPD initiative in the past. As a health care provider, Violano has witnessed firsthand the devastation of firearm injuries. “We want to continue to eliminate unwanted firearms,” she said.
NHPD Captain Anthony Duff attended to express his support for the Hamden initiative.
Since its start the New Haven buyback initiative has taken in over 1,000 firearms, said Violano.
I think this is an interesting, artful, and thoughtful approach to getting guns off the streets.