Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler and Acting City of Newburgh Police Chief, Lieutenant Kevin Lahar, announced the results of the Gun Buy-back Program that was held, with the assistance of the New York State Police, on Saturday, July 10, at the City of Newburgh Community Center. The event resulted in fourteen handguns and five long guns being turned into the police.
The program was designed to allow people to safely surrender guns and to receive Walmart gift cards valued at up to $150.00, depending on the type of gun surrendered. Those surrendering operable assault weapons would have received gift cards totaling $150.00. Those surrendering operable handguns, or modified rifles or shotguns, received gift cards totaling $100.00. Those surrendering rifles or shotguns, or antique or non-working firearms received gift cards totaling $25.00. There was no limit to the number of weapons that could be surrendered. Active or retired law enforcement officers and licensed gun dealers were not eligible to participate in the program. No identification was required to surrender any weapon, and no questions were asked of the people dropping off the firearms.
Under the New York State Penal Law, a person who voluntarily surrenders a weapon to the police, in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the police for such a surrender, receives immunity from prosecution for the unlawful possession of the weapon, but not for other crimes that the person may have committed using the weapon.
Hoovler thanked Walmart for supporting the Gun Buyback Program and for providing the gift cards that were used for the program.
“We are committed to reducing gun violence in the City of Newburgh,” said District Attorney Hoovler, “and gun buyback programs are an important strategy to help do that. I commend the City of Newburgh Police Department for joining with my Office in this program, and I thank the New York State Police for their valuable assistance in making the program work. Under my Office’s policy, and under New York State law, individuals who carry illegal, loaded guns in Orange County face a minimum of 3½ years in prison. So I encourage everyone in possession of an illegal gun, but who did not take advantage of the program this past weekend, to contact police to surrender any weapons they possess illegally. Ultimately, Orange County is just a bit safer every time we remove an illegal gun from the street.”
“Our Police Department continues to work with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners,” said Lahar, “to remove guns from the streets of the City of Newburgh and to prevent them from falling into the hands of individuals with criminal malice. This gun buyback initiative with District Attorney Hoovler and the New York State Police was certainly successful and assists us in reducing violent crime here in the City of Newburgh and, specifically, the violent crime perpetrated by those choosing to use firearms to commit acts of violence.”
The City of Newburgh will host another Community Gun Buyback Day on Thursday, July 22, at The Cathedral At The House (131 Broadway) from 12 to 4 p.m.
This will be conducted by Office of New York Attorney General Letitia James in conjunction with the City of Newburgh Police Department. This one will pay for up to $250 and an iPad for an assault rifle.