BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

The Tampa Police Department held their first gun buy back in several years on December 10th. The event was in response to the violent deaths of several young men that took place in November.

The deaths of ten individuals were investigated by police as murders during a 14-day period in November. Some of those homicides involved teenagers. In addition to the deaths, several other victims hit by gunfire survived.

The Gun Buy Back was part of the “Stop The Violence” Initiative that came into existence as a result of the rash of violent crimes took place in Hillsborough County.

During the event, citizens were encouraged to turn in unwanted, operable firearms, no questions asked. In exchange, they received $50 per weapon surrendered.

Now, a month after police collected more than 1,000 guns, they are crediting the event with the reduction of crime from the previous year. Police were anticipating collecting about 500 weapons, but the response was overwhelming.

Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor said, “The community can take comfort in knowing the guns we recovered will never be used against an innocent victim.

This includes more than two dozen sawed-off shotguns or short-barreled rifles  that are most often found in the hands of criminals.”

Chief Castor further stated that during the period of December 10, 2010 through January 10, 2011, 50 crimes were committed with guns. During the same period of December 10, 2011 through January 10, 2012, guns were involved in 38 crimes committed for a reduction of 24%.

The buy back was funded by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mrs. Kelly Curtis, (the widow of Officer David Curtis), and money seized from drugs.
The weapons collected will be destroyed.