With the pervasiveness of gun violence in our country, many people are asking, “What can I do?” In Massachusetts, we are lucky to have some of the strongest gun laws in the nation, corresponding to lower rates of gun ownership and gun violence.
Yet, even here in Newton, guns have a significant presence. According to the Newton Police Department, there are currently 2,586 active gun permits in Newton, up from 1,971 in 2018 and 1,131 in 2008.
The City of Newton is providing a concrete, practical way to help reduce the risk of gun violence right here in our community. On June 24, the Newton Gun Violence Prevention Collaborative will team up with the Newton Police Department and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office to hold the first gun buyback in Newton since 2019.
Gun buybacks provide a safe way for residents to anonymously remove firearms from their homes, no questions asked, in exchange for grocery store gift cards. The weapons turned in are then destroyed, removing them permanently from circulation. At Newton’s 2019 buyback, we collected 46 guns and 2,500 rounds of ammunition. Those guns and bullets are no longer in the Newton community.
We believe that if we can help facilitate the removal of even one gun from our community that might be used in a suicide, or stolen from someone’s home to be used in a crime, then it is our obligation to do so.
You can be a part of this effort. To make a financial donation or to volunteer, please contact info@newtongunviolenceprevention.org. Thank you for making a difference! For more information, visit https://www.newtongunviolenceprevention.org/
Heather Tausig, Laura Towvim, and Alexandra Wolf
Newton Gun Violence Prevention Collaborative
