Roanoke, Virginia – In an ongoing effort to reduce gun violence in the local community, various Roanoke organizations are joining forces to hold another ‘Groceries Not Guns‘ gun buyback initiative slated for June 24. This campaign works towards eliminating firearms from households, thereby minimizing their potential to be stolen and re-enter the very communities where gun-related incidents frequently occur.
Brenda Hale, the President of the Roanoke branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and an organizer of the initiative, advocates for the removal of guns as a means of preventing them from falling into the hands of children. “We are making a difference right here in the Roanoke Valley,” stated Hale.
In its previous two events, ‘Groceries Not Guns’ successfully bought back 250 guns. Participating gun owners received financial compensation of $250 for semi-automatic handguns and $150 for shotguns, rifles, or revolvers.
Catherine Koebel Stromberg, the NAACP committee chair for ‘Groceries Not Guns’, elucidated the larger goal of the initiative. “We are encouraging not just a total number of guns collected but also a divestment,” she said. “A divestment from a culture of guns and violence and investment in a culture of nonviolence and community.”
Roanoke Police Chief Sam Roman underscored the success of buybacks in preventing firearms from reaching individuals likely to misuse them. He stated that any action which helps to reduce violence by taking a gun away from someone who could harm others is a successful step towards reducing gun violence.
Given the recent surge in the involvement of Roanoke’s youth in gun-related incidents, the organizers aim to shift this dangerous trend. “We want to capture that market of these young folks that have guns in their hands and they have them illegally,” Hale said. “You have a choice that you can make. You can bring them to us and there will be no questions asked and no one will be going to jail.”
Mike Heller, another organizer, noted the mission of ‘Groceries Not Guns’ extends to reducing the rate of both shooting homicides and suicides. Upon collection, all guns will be handed over to the Roanoke Police, who will ensure their proper disposal, thereby preventing their re-entry into circulation.
The ‘Groceries Not Guns’ event will be hosted at the Melrose Community Center, located at 1427 Melrose Avenue NW, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 24.
