A gun buyback program planned for Friday and Saturday at the Word Church in Akron has been postponed, mostly because of a lack of funding, organizers said.
The group of elected officials, law enforcement representatives and others behind the Piece for Peace event is still trying to raise at least $50,000 for the event. The original goal was $70,000.
“It’s just so unfortunate. People are dying around here,” said Akron City Councilwoman Tara Mosley Samples. “It’s concerning that people don’t think getting guns off the street is a major issue. People don’t see it as an issue until it affects them, but it is an issue, because it’s affecting this entire community.”
She said the event will probably be held at the church at 1700 Brittain Road in October.
“We have to hit that $50,000 mark before we’re comfortable with saying we’re moving forward at a specific date,” Mosley said.
The Piece for Peace program will pay $50 gift cards for rifles and shotguns and $100 gift cards for handguns and assault weapons.
The last time a similar program was held was in 2008, and there was also an issue with raising money. The program only had enough money to buy gift cards for the first 650 guns turned in. The year before in 2007, there were 950 guns turned in before the organizers ran out of cards.
“We would hate for people to come with guns and we run out of money,” Mosley Samples said. “We’re not at $30,000 yet.”
State Rep. Greta Johnson, D-Akron, said another reason for the delay is the need to create education and peace initiatives.
“We’re still meeting as a group, reaching out to community partners like the health department and faith based and community leaders and different law enforcement agencies on the overwhelming gun violence problem,” Johnson said. “We’re just trying to put things together so it’s not just a one-day event.
“We’re just trying to impact the community on a broader level. We want the educational pieces to lead up to the buyback.”
Johnson said it’s a bigger undertaking than any of the organizers anticipated and they just want to make sure it’s done right.
Akron and Barberton police and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office are also working with the group.
For questions, email: piece4peace2016@gmail.com or call 330-861-4451.
For donations, checks may be sent to: Summit County Crimestoppers, c/o Treasurer/Chief Michael Mier, 1280 Sunset Drive, Copley Twp., OH 44321.
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.