Reading delays gun buyback program until April 24
Tue, April 6, 2021, 6:59 AM
Apr. 6—Reading's gun buyback program that was supposed to happen next Saturday has been pushed back.

The city originally planned to hold the event on April 17, but now a mobile COVID-19 vaccine event and the Reading High School boys basketball state championship celebration are taking place that day, Police Chief Richard Tornielli said at City Council's committee of the whole meeting on Monday.

"We didn't want to take away from those events or have those events take away from this event," he said.

The new date for the buyback is April 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at two locations: one in the city's northeast and the other in the city's southwest. The exact locations are still being finalized, Tornielli said.

The city had two "faith based" locations lined up, but because of the change in dates, the administration does not know if those places are still available, said Frank Denbowski, Moran's chief of staff.

"In the next day or two, we should be able to reconfirm these locations," Denbowski said. "They are very strategic and very welcoming to the community."

The gun buyback program was a result of a recent uptick in gun violence in the city and the public outcry after a 14-year-old boy shot and killed 16-year-old girl and wounded a 17-year-old girl.

Mayor Eddie Moran held a press conference earlier this month with Tornielli and Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, Reading School District superintendent, to lay out a three-pronged plan to fight gun violence in the city.

The city plans to combat gun violence through increased policing, the gun buyback program and partnering with community organizations.

The buyback program is being funded through a donation from a trust account that was bequeathed to the mayor's office, said city Finance Director Jamar Kelly.

"We are also seeking external donations to match the seed funding for the program," he said.

"The mayor is considering going out to the business community to build support with additional donations," Kelly added.

Moran's office is setting aside at least $10,000 for the program, Kelly said.

Kelly emphasized taxpayer money is not being used to fund the program.

How the program will work

Anyone who has a working firearm in their possession can turn it in at one of the locations, no questions asked, Tornielli said.

The person then receives a gift card. Tornielli said the department is still discussing different values for handguns and long guns that are turned in.

The most important part of the program is the firearms can be turned in without consequence.

"If you turn in a firearm and we later find out that the gun was stolen or something like that, the person who turned it in will not be held responsible for that," Tornielli said.

"We are just looking to get firearms off the street," he added.

The police department will investigate whether the firearms that were turned in were stolen or used in a crime, Tornielli said

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