East Orange, NJ, August 2, 2021: The City of East Orange is joining New Jersey’s Acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck this Saturday, August 7, 2021, along with Newark, Paterson and Atlantic City, for simultaneous “Guns for Cash” Events as part of statewide comprehensive efforts to reduce gun violence.
East Orange’s event will be held at New Vision Full Gospel Baptist Church, 100 Warrington Place, between 10am-7pm.
This initiative is in timely alignment with the vision and mission of Mayor Ted R. Green, First Ward Councilwoman and Public Safety Chair Amy Lewis, and East Orange Police Chief Phyllis Bindi who have all been keenly focused on making East Orange one of the safest cities of its size and demographic in the nation. Since 2018, overall crime in East Orange has been down, year over year — a downward trend significantly impacted by fewer gun crimes.
Any East Orange resident can turn in a gun, or firearm, at the designated location and collect cash up to $300 no questions asked. Guns must be unloaded and in working condition. There is a three [3] gun limit per person. Police officers will be on site to expedite the collection process. The program is funded with forfeiture dollars from local, county and state departments.
“Every gun that we are able to get out of the wrong hands and off the streets is a win for everyone,” Mayor Green. “Public safety has always been my administration’s top priority and this gun buyback program means a safer city for our residents and our officers.”
“When it comes to gun safety, it’s best to have a preventative approach rather than a reactive approach. That’s the difference in saving lives,” said Councilwoman Amy Lewis. “Our goal is to prevent any further gun violence from occurring in our city. As the Public Safety Chairwoman for our City Council, I am proud that we are creating a safer environment for our children and for our community.”
EOPD Police Chief Phyllis Bindi said working with law enforcement partners throughout the state and effective community-oriented police strategies have contributed greatly to reducing crime in the city.
“For years, we have been working diligently with our law enforcement agencies and community partners to get illegal guns off the street,” said EOPD Police Chief Phyllis Bindi. “These buyback programs are an aggressive step in the right direction and an absolutely necessary component in a broader plan to ensure the safety of the people we protect and serve.”
In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy and Acting AG Bruck are leading a comprehensive, statewide effort to reduce gun deaths, which pairs the latest evidence-based policing strategies with innovative, community-based prevention programs. The three-pronged approach to tackling this public health crisis includes addressing the root causes of violence; keeping guns away from those most likely to harm others; and taking swift action against those who break the law.
“The rise in shootings across our country and throughout our state is deeply painful, and our Office is deploying all available tools to attack the problem from every possible angle,” said Acting AG Bruck. “This buyback initiative is part of our broad-based, ongoing efforts to stop the violence in our communities and save lives by reducing the number of firearms in circulation. There are too many illegal guns on the street and too many people impacted by the trauma of gun violence, and I urge residents to help make their homes and their neighborhoods safer by participating in these gun buyback programs.”
What: “Guns for Cash” – East Orange Gun Buyback Program
When: Saturday, August 7 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Where: New Vision Baptist Church, located at 100 Warrington Place, East Orange
Who: Acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck, Mayor Ted Green, Councilwoman Amy Lewis, EOPD Chief Phyllis Bindi
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