Boston\u2019s gun buyback program was off to a speedy start in 2014, but has slowed dramatically with only one firearm turned in so far this year.<\/p>\n
2014 yielded more than 400 firearms, each purchased for anywhere between $100-$200. This year however, is a different story. Boston police say the program is still up and running, but the public seems to have all but lost interest in the initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no question why the total number is down: The gun buyback\u2019s numbers clearly aren\u2019t on the same level as the guns taken a year ago,\u201d said police spokesman Officer James Kenneally. \u201cAs long as there\u2019s funding, it\u2019s an option we can provide to community members.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Boston police haven\u2019t been receiving any firearms through the buyback program, they\u2019ve still managed to snatch up more than 400 \u201ccrime guns\u201d during arrests and other means, making the streets at least a little safer.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t underestimate the effort that goes into taking those guns off the streets of Boston,\u201d said Kenneally. \u201cThose are the tough guns.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even still, Walsh plans to redouble their efforts in collecting firearms through the buyback program and reached out to the public for help.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to make sure we double our efforts on that,\u201d said Walsh. \u201cI\u2019m asking any family members out there that you know have a gun in the house \u2013 or you might know that one of your kids has a gun \u2013 we will come and pick it up. We will take the gun out of the house.\u201d<\/p>\n
(This article was a submission from freelance writer Brent Rogers<\/em>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Boston\u2019s gun buyback program was off to a speedy start in 2014, but has slowed dramatically with only one firearm turned in so far this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":41703,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,241,240],"tags":[132,122],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-41700","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gunsamerica-authors","8":"category-rapid-fire","9":"category-this-week","10":"tag-buzz","11":"tag-r2kba"},"yoast_head":"\n