NJ Officials Consider Expanding State Sponsored Gun Buyback Program
By David Madden
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) - Last weekend's gun buyback in the city of Camden was far more successful than organizers had expected. Because of that, officials are considering trying it in other New Jersey cities.
"We want to take the steps that we took in Camden and take those steps other places that are gonna have the same kind of impact we had in Camden," New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said.
The carnage at Sandy Hook Elementary came, coincidentally, in the middle of Camden's two-day, state sponsored buyback. Day two saw twice the business of day one…more than 1,100 weapons all told.
Chiesa believes this was the largest haul of any gun buyback anywhere in the state.
"I certainly intend to explore the potential of doing it in other places in New Jersey as well in communities where we can take these guns out of circulation," he said.
More than $150,000 in criminal forfeiture money paid for this buyback. Given the response, Chiesa considers it money well spent.
While getting those weapons off the street won't bring down Camden's crime rate now, it'll help in the long run.
