Gun buyback event to be held by District 9 councilman

SAN ANTONIO – A North Side councilman hopes to make a dent in San Antonio’s gun violence thru a “voluntary weapons exchange,” the place other folks can business their weapons for H.E.B. present playing cards with “no questions asked.”

Councilman John Courage is organizing the Nov. 19 event thru his District 9 council place of work, the use of price range from his district finances and donations.

People can convey as many as 20 unloaded guns to the Alamodome parking space that Sunday afternoon and, relying at the situation and form of firearm, obtain between $50 and $300 value of present playing cards in line with weapon.

“Just drive in,” Courage stated. “No one’s going to ask your name. No one’s going to ask where you got the weapon. No one’s going to ask where you live. Simple as that.”

San Antonio Police officials will gather the guns on web site, he stated. The firearms will be destroyed after figuring out if they’ve been reported stolen or utilized in a criminal offense.

More than 4,200 weapons were collected in the Houston area all through 4 such occasions. Courage hopes to bag no less than 500 with this change.

The fourth-term councilman framed the event as some way for other folks interested by their weapons being stolen or utilized in a spur-of-the-moment violent incident to get rid of them with out being concerned about the place they finally end up.

“You know, there are too many problems with people who have been hurting themselves with weapons, who are family members who are afraid another person going through a crisis might use a weapon in their home to hurt themselves or others. You know, we have too much domestic violence in our community,” he stated.

Courage was once a part of an effort to do one thing identical in 2019 after the mass taking pictures at an El Paso Walmart.

However, he stated he and his council allies didn’t really feel that they had the toughen to transfer it ahead and ended up taking flight it.

A vocal opponent on the time was once San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, who stated gun buybacks “just don’t work” and that taking weapons with “no questions asked” may lead to problems.

“If I’m turning over a gun and that gun’s been used in a murder, I’m going to want to talk to that person,” McManus stated on the time.

With his officials now set to take part in this sort of program, it wasn’t in an instant transparent what had modified McManus’ thoughts or how his particular considerations have been addressed.

An SAPD spokesman stated the manager was once unavailable Thursday for an on-camera interview. Instead, the spokesman equipped a brief, emailed remark downplaying the dep.’s function within the event.

“This event is being promoted, coordinated and facilitated by the District 9 Councilman’s office using their own funding sources. SAPD’s role will be to safely and efficiently collect any firearms that are turned in to ensure public safety,” the spokesman wrote.

emailed follow-up questions to in particular ask why McManus had it seems that modified his thoughts on gun buybacks and whether or not the event would in reality be nameless or if SAPD would strive to log who had dropped off a selected weapon if it’s discovered to be comparable to a criminal offense.

When pressed at the identical matter, Courage stated, “Police … have not told me they have any intent to follow through on anything.”

As to whyvMcManus will have modified his thoughts, the councilman stated, “I think my presentation to him about what we’re trying to do and what we’re targeting, and I think he understands what’s going on in this community and understands the value of this.”

Courage has pledged $100,000 out of the rollover price range in his council district finances. Other council individuals have additionally pledged cash, Courage stated, and he plans to solicit contributions from the neighborhood with the hope of elevating no less than $200,000.

Council individuals pay attention “all the time” from people who find themselves disenchanted about gun violence, he says, “and the one thing I’ve heard from many people all over is ‘when are we going to do something?’”

“You know, federally, we’re limited. Statewide, we’re limited. But what can we do? What action can we take to make people safer in the community? That’s why I feel this is the most valuable use for that money.”