Gun buyback program in southeast Michigan aiming to reduce violence
(CBS DETROIT) — Over 60 privately owned guns were given back to be destroyed at a gun buyback event at St. Aidan's Church in Ann Arbor Saturday.
It was the last of six gun buyback events, which are hosted by southeast Michigan Episcopal churches. Over 300 guns have been returned within the span of those events.
People who dropped off a gun were given a gift card or, for some, simple relief.
"When you see the people come, you find out why it's important when they tell you I've had this gun in my closet it was my dad's and I didn't know what to do with it or it was my husband's or it had some tragic thing in their family and they're really relieved," said Tom Ferguson, director of St. Aidan's Episcopal Church.
One couple decided to give away an AR-15 they owned.
"It was a gun that belonged to my son. He used it for target practice," said Leo Wisniesky of Ypsilanti. "He's no longer interested in it and we've had it in the house for several years and we don't have any use for it."
Once the guns were turned in, they were destroyed and taken apart. Physicians for the Prevention of Gun Violence is helping in that process.
"Gun Violence has become the number one killer of children in the U.S. since 2020," said Mike Otto, president of Physicians for the Prevention of Gun Violence. "Forty-four thousand Americans die of gun violence every year and 10% of those are kids. So, every two hours, a kid dies in the U.S., which is way out of proportion to any other country in the world."
After the gun is disassembled, the pieces are then turned into art — turning something that can kill into something that can inspire.
There will be six more gun buyback events happening next year, including one at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church.
