Unfortunately, gun violence continues to rise. It’s gotten so bad that a few weeks ago, Governor Andrew Cuomo declared it an emergency.

Law enforcement officials are working to find creative solutions, too. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh’s office, Syracuse Police and State Attorney General Letitia James are partnering to hold a gun buyback program.

What You Need To Know

  • There will be a gun buyback program at St. Lucy's Food Pantry on Gifford Street

  • The event is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  • Participants will receive up to $250 for each firearm

  • There are no questions asked

On Saturday, anyone can bring a gun to St. Lucy’s Food Pantry on Gifford Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

They accept working or non-working guns, and they must be unloaded. Participants will get gift cards worth up to $250 if they turn in anything from antique guns to assault rifles. A limited number of iPads will be given away on a first come first serve basis.

“This gives an opportunity for people that have unwanted firearms that they no longer want; these things in their possession a simple, convenient and safe way to turn them over to the police department,” said Sergeant Matthew Malinowski, a spokesman for the Syracuse Police Department. “And then we’ll secure them from there. And I think it’s a convenient way for people to get money for weapons that they already have.”

The program is an amnesty program, so no questions will be asked. If the gun was used in a crime, you bear no responsibility. Police will be on site to take and destroy the weapons, not to get anyone in trouble.

Receiving more than one gun would make the day a success, according to Malinowski.

There are some questions about buyback programs effectiveness. Gun buyback don’t lead to fewer gun-related crime, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, because they don’t make a significant dent in the number of guns in the community.

For SPD, destroying at least one gun is a success, because it’s hard to calculate a crime that hasn’t occurred yet, said Malinowski.

“We just see it as reducing the amount of guns that are on the street, reduces the amount of guns that can eventually end up in criminals hands or juveniles hands and commit the crime,” said Malinowski. “But it’s hard to quantify that data because we can’t predict the future.”

Governor Cuomo announced another step to curb gun violence on Wednesday. His office is directing $750,000 to help young adults in Syracuse.

The program will provide job training and career placement services to connect at-risk people with jobs. Anyone 18 to 24 years old will be eligible.