Skip to content
News
Link copied to clipboard

'Guns for Groceries' event nets 260 more weapons

People turned in 260 firearms in Southwest Philadelphia yesterday, bringing the total of five "Groceries for Guns" exchanges around the city to 1,066, according to a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.).

People turned in 260 firearms in Southwest Philadelphia yesterday, bringing the total of five "Groceries for Guns" exchanges around the city to 1,066, according to a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.).

The collection station yesterday was at the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center at 58th Street and Kingsessing Avenue in the 12th Police District, where there were 32 homicides last year, the most in the city, Fattah's office said. Fattah, who is running for mayor, started the exchange program; City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown has cosponsored all the events.

The program encourages people to turn in any type of firearm - no questions asked - in exchange for $200 in grocery vouchers (maximum of $400). Police then dismantle the guns and destroy them. - Inquirer staff