Buy back/surrender program exceeds police expectations

70 guns were collected in the buy back.

By Jon Moffett

Vindicator Staff Writer

YOUNGSTOWN — Police Chief Jimmy Hughes is urging citizens to understand crime doesn’t pay, but being responsible does.

That’s why Hughes and the Youngstown Police Department had a “firearm buy back and safe surrender program” Wednesday at the station.

The department handed out $50 food vouchers for the Sparkle markets on Gypsy Lane and Mahoning Avenue to individuals turning in a complete gun. Officers collecting guns said 70 firearms were brought in. Hughes said the department initially had 30 vouchers, but exceeded that amount quickly into the four-hour drive. He added that a voucher would be given for each gun and the department would make sure each individual received them.

Guns collected will be checked and run through a system to make sure they have not been used in violent crime, and will then be destroyed.

Nick Galanses, 42, of Campbell, turned in an old pistol for his voucher. He said the drive was the perfect opportunity to get rid of the gun.

“It’s useless to me. I mean, it’s just sitting around in a drawer,” he said. “To be honest, I’d probably be afraid to fire it because it’s so old. And $50 worth of groceries is $50 worth of groceries.”

Though Galanses said the drive was beneficial, it won’t help the root of the problem.

“To be honest, I don’t think it’s going to make Youngstown any safer,” he said. “I don’t think that any of the real criminals are going to come here and give their guns away for $50 worth of groceries . It’s worth it more to the normal citizens than it is anybody else.”

Hughes acknowledged similar concerns, saying the people turning in guns are generally law-abiding citizens. But having the firearms lying around is dangerous because of the potential for the guns being stolen during a break-in or accidentally used. He said that the buy back program isn’t a perfect solution, but is a good start.

“I understand that taking guns back is not going to prevent individuals from buying or going some place else, but times are hard and I’m looking at it from the approach that because the economy is bad, it’s going to take them a little bit longer to replenish those guns.”

Mayor Jay Williams agreed with Hughes, saying, “There is far too much gun violence in Youngstown ... But any gun that we can get off the street is one less that can be used in a serious crime.”

Others agreed with the idea of the drive, saying anything that will make the city safer is a step in the right direction.

William Ash, 78, of Youngstown brought in three pistols that had been lying around the house for “40 or 50 years” and belonged to his father and uncle. He also brought in a pistol he had purchased for himself for protection. He said the police are doing all they can to limit the number of gun-related incidents in the city.

“It means a lot for the city in general,” he said. “The mayor and chief of police are doing everything they can to reduce crime, and I think this is a good step toward that.”

Along with the gun collection, the department also offered citizens with outstanding warrants the opportunity to turn themselves in without additional penalty.

Hughes said he had a list of 1,700 capias warrants, mostly misdemeanors, for people in Youngstown. The event gave those people the chance to avoid being arrested at a later date on those warrants.

“What we’re doing is, we’re recalling that capias warrant that was issued for someone failing to appear the first time. By doing that, you’re saving yourself the capias fees, the possibility of being arrested by us, coming to your home, job or where you are, looking for you and picking you up.”

He stressed that the original charges will not be dropped. For those who do not turn themselves in, Hughes said the department will launch a second wave to “round up” the rest.

“It’s my personal commitment to try and make an effort to get each and every one on the list in some fashion,” he said.

Hughes said he hoped for 10 percent, or 170 of those with outstanding warrants and easily exceeded that figure. Officers said anywhere from 500 to 700 people appeared.

jmoffett@vindy.com