JERSEY CITY – Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and police officials announced details for the third stage of Operation Lifesafer 2, the continuation of the successful municipal gun buyback program initiated during the summer.

 

On Saturday, October 8th, 2011 between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. at four locations across the city, residents can turn in weapons for an amount of either $100 or $150 depending on the type of weapon, officials said.

Lifesafer 2 , launched on consecutive weekends in July, led to the recovery of 234 weapons, including rifles, handguns and semiautomatic weapons, officials reported.

The gun buyback, which was made possible by funds allocated by generous donations of local businesses and residents, as well as the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, was part of the city’s Operation Summer Shield – a multi-faceted plan to stem crime throughout the city that is usually associated with the summer months. The Interfaith Ministerial Alliance and the Jersey City Police Department are also co-sponsors.  

“The first two weekends were very successful, which led us to conclude we should add at least a third weekend,” said Mayor Healy, who launched the city’s first gun buyback program in 2005 where 897weapons were collected. “Any gun we take off the streets ends the opportunity for that gun to play a role in violent street crime and that’s a win for our city.”

The gun buyback and amnesty program allows residents to turn in weapons for stipulated prices; $100 for rifles and shotguns, and $150 for handguns and automatics. The locations for gun turn in are: Saint Johns AME Church, 326 Pacific Ave; St. Michael’s Methodist Church, 37 Virginia Ave; New Hope Baptist Church, 472 Bergen Ave; and Abundant Joy Community Church, 137 Bowers Street.///