“We can and must do more to stem the tide of illegal guns that end up on our streets and in the hands of criminals. I guarantee that the people responsible for this terrible crime did not legally possess those handguns. The question is how did they end up in their hands – and what can we do to prevent more weapons from ending up in the hands of criminals?” – Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch
Bridgeport, Conn. (June 14, 2015) – Today, Mayor Bill Finch is calling on Bridgeport businesses to help finance his gun buyback program.
Mayor Finch says that the gun buyback program is critical in its effort to crack down on illegal guns – especially in light of Thursday’s tragic shooting.
“This is not just a Bridgeport problem. This a national problem, and hard-working people in cities across the country are being victimized by weak and ineffective federal gun laws,” said Mayor Bill Finch.
Click here for video of Mayor Finch announcing the gun buyback program: https://youtu.be/38jLJTrv3PA.
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention, one person is killed in the U.S. by a firearm every 17 minutes, 87 people are killed during an average day, and 609 are killed every week.
Also, between 2000 and 2010, a total of 335,609 people died from guns –more than the population of St. Louis, Mo. (318,069), Pittsburgh (307,484), Cincinnati, Ohio (296,223), Newark, N.J. (277,540), and Orlando, Fla. (243,195).
“We can and must do more to stem the tide of illegal guns that end up on our streets and in the hands of criminals,” said Mayor Finch.“I guarantee that the people responsible for this terrible crime did not legally possess those handguns.” The question is how did they end up in their hands – and what can we do to prevent more weapons from ending up in the hands of criminals?”
The goal of the program is to raise $100,000 to help take 1,000 guns off of the streets. Mayor Finch, stated that the city will start the fund with $25,000 and are calling on the business community for an additional $75,000.
“That’s why we’re calling on businesses to help us fund our gun buyback program. We all need to do our part to win the fight against illegal guns. It’s critical to ensure our streets are not only safer today, but for generations to come,” said Mayor Finch. “The numbers speak for themselves. We can – and must – do better. The lives of our kids depend on it.”
Mayor Finch has advocated for stronger gun laws at a state and national level since his tenure as a state senator. And, as mayor, he launched a successful gun buyback program that has taken more than 1,000 guns off the streets.
“Those are weapons that can never be used to hurt or kill someone,” said Mayor Finch.
The city also distributed hundreds of free gun locks to ensure legally owned guns are stored safely and to help prevent accidental shootings.
Businesses interested in contributing to the cities gun buyback effort can do so by calling Mayor Finch’s office at (203) 576-7201.