GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Police Department is proposing a gun buyback program to help reduce violent crime in the city.
GRPD Chief Eric Payne will ask the Grand Rapids City Commission on Tuesday for $20,000 in funding from the City’s SAFE (Safe Alliances for Everyone) Task Force for the gun buyback program. according to GRPD this afternoon.
The funds would cover expenses related to community engagement, program promotion and the “purchase” of citizens' firearms.
The department hopes to launch the program in October.
“This program will help us get illegal guns off the street and provide community members who no longer want to have legal firearms in their home a place to safely dispose of them,” Payne said. “Removing these weapons will make the community safer by limiting access to firearms by those interested in using them in criminal acts.”
The amount for each gun would be based on a pre-determined tier system based on the type of firearm.
GRPD said the amounts range from $50 to $200 in other communities.
“We understand the lessons learned in other cities, and we plan to work with community partners to organize and launch what we expect to be a successful program,” Payne said.
The gun buyback program will be considered by the city's Fiscal Committee at its 8:30 a.m. meeting on Tuesday.
It will then be considered by the City Commission at its 7 p.m. meeting on Tuesday.
