CHESAPEAKE
In a second community meeting called since two young men were shot to death July 1, Police Chief Kelvin Wright made good on a promise to explore a gun buy-back program in Chesapeake.
The department is looking to partner with major retailers to provide gift cards in exchange for the weapons this fall, Wright told an audience of nearly 300 who filled pews at Bethany Baptist Church in South Norfolk on Thursday night.
If that doesn't happen, the chief said, money would be available to move forward with the program anyway.
Wright said participants would not be asked for identification and would not have to undergo background checks.
The gathering of residents, police officers and school and city officials was meant to follow up on one convened just days after the killings of Lonnie Andrews Jr., 18, and Dontrell Whitehurst, 26.
Andrews' family came to both the first and second meetings, this time wearing T-shirts with the teenager's name and photograph. The Oscar Smith High School graduate had planned to attend college this fall on a football scholarship.
Although Andrews and Whitehurst were shot about four miles apart within 12 hours of each other, police have said the killings do not appear to be related.
Arrests have been made in both cases, and the two suspects remain in custody awaiting preliminary hearings next month.
Those who spoke at the July 10 meeting recommended the gun buy-back program. Wright promised to look into it, saying if it was financially possible he would do it.
One youth suggested making Chesapeake's community centers free for young people, arguing that they'd be more apt to use them and stay off the streets.
City officials said Thursday night that the fees would be waived for those under 18, but also called on people to volunteer time there.
Wright said the police department plans to address curfew violations and expand the police science academy for children, if approved by the school system, to build relationships between young people and the police.
He also said the department plans to continue its street crimes unit that focuses on crime hot spots.
"Our goal is to make that a permanent part of the police department," Wright said.
Kristin Davis, (757) 222-5208, kristin.davis@pilotonline.com
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That's right lock up the guns...
...that will fix all of our crime problems! Just put those guns in jail and everybody will be safe! No, prosecute gun crimes and criminals with guns to the maximum, especially felons in possession of a firearm. No plea bargains either, and add the illegal gun charge to whatever crime they're being prosecuted for in the first place. I won't be involved in SHAM actions and I won't support ANY business that donates to SHAM gun buy-backs. It's all about the criminals, and this sham is the opposite of that.
Get involved John
Just don't whine about it. How do you think criminals get their guns? They steal them from good citizens and the criminals don't care if they are shiny and new, just that they will intimidate and maybe even get off 1 shot. The buy back program is only 1 part of a huge effort to keep Chesapeake one of the safest cities in the country. If you can think of another program to help... GET INVOLVED
Yeah ....
What possible good could come from taking guns off the street?
Gun buy-back programs are a joke
They reflect the TOTAL failure of a police department and its leadership. What happens in virtually every one of these buy-back programs across the US? Law-abiding people turn in their old, virtually worthless and often completely unusuable and broken firearms in exchange for something of greater value--the gift cards or cash. Retailers and citizens--supporting this is supporting a police department that puts you at the bottom of their interest. What they demonstrate with this type of program is they value feel-good publicity and the claim that they're "doing something" to fight crime. To the mayor and chief of police--it's the criminals, not their tools of the trade that we want taken off the streets!!!
Community involvement
Suggestion: Can Chief Wright set up an account at a bank that has many local branches so that private citizens can make donations to be used to fund the gun buy back program? Asking businesses to provide gift cards is a great idea, but concerned private citizens can contribute too. Get involved! Make a difference by donating money, volunteering time, or both.
Baby steps
Eventually, all the baby steps taken by the city and police in this area will add up and pay big dividends. Keep up the efforts, I believe they will work.