The Archdiocese of Baltimore collected more than 280 guns, including handguns, rifles and semi-automatics, during its second annual gun buyback event Aug. 10 in West Baltimore.
Organized by Father Michael Murphy, pastor of St. Joseph Monastery in Baltimore and Our Lady of Victory in Arbutus, the event had cars lining up by 8:30 a.m. so people could get cash for handing over up to three guns to the Baltimore City Police with no questions asked.
“I’m getting up in years now and the things I used to do, I don’t do anymore,” said Ray Smith, of Baltimore, as he waited for his three weapons to be processed. “A couple guns are not registered. You just can’t give them to kids, you don’t know what they’ll do with them.”
The archdiocese raised $70,000 through donations, Father Murphy said. People were given either $100 or $200, depending on the gun. Any remaining funds after the event were to be donated to the archdiocese’s grief ministry.
“People were very generous,” said Father Murphy, who also recognized the Baltimore City Police and the numerous organizations and nonprofits that came out on a hot Saturday morning to help with the event.
Members of Baltimore city’s SWAT team, range officers, uniformed officers and others were all on hand to ensure everything was done safely. All guns collected will be destroyed and all the stolen guns collected will be returned to their owners.
“This is a good job today,” said Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., vicar for Baltimore City. “We are raising awareness. All these different entities coming together for a common purpose shows we are all concerned about the same thing.”
Betty Schroll, a member of First and Franklin Presbyterian Church, has helped with the gun buyback since its beginnings last year. Her parish, she said, did a Guns to Garden collection, like the gun buyback program, three years ago and successfully collected 19 guns. When the church members approached the police department the following year for support, they were introduced to Father Murphy.
“We made the connection,” said Schroll, who, along with four other parishioners of First and Franklin, was busy taking information from the drivers to get them their money.
“Some people are very anxious to get rid of the gun, maybe bad memories?” Schroll said. “It’s just calming people down.”
Joseph Muir of South Baltimore was in line “just because.”
“I just want to get rid of that gun,” Muir said. “I had it 50 years and have yet to put a bullet in it.”
Beckett White, 16, a student at Mount St. Joseph who was volunteering with his mother Allison White, liked the idea of the buyback, but questioned its effectiveness.
“I don’t think it is really possible to end all violence,” he said. White, a teacher at Mount St. Joseph, disagreed.
“Everyone’s life is important,” White said. “It is important to get guns out of homes. It is the first step in preventing a potential tragedy.”
Father Murphy acknowledged that not all the guns collected Saturday were from the streets of Baltimore. But he called it a success when any weapon is turned in.
“Each and every one of us is important,” Bishop Lewandowski said. “We are unique and loved.”
Email Katie Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org
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