GUNS - New bounty program

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Mayor announces new Gun Bounty Program By PENELOPE DEESE : The Herald-Sun jkl@herald-sun.com Jul 18, 2001 : 9:01 pm ET

DURHAM -- A new CrimeStoppers program that offers a $250 bounty for information leading to the seizure of illegal guns aims to make Durham’s streets safer and will help solve criminal investigations, Mayor Nick Tennyson said Wednesday.

To begin immediately, The Gun Bounty Program targets guns possessed illegally by convicted felons and minors and guns in prohibited locations such as schools. Tips received from callers will provide law enforcement officials with information for investigations as well, Tennyson said in a press release.

"We expect that the recovery of these illegal guns will lead to the clearance of other crimes," he said. "These are the guns that are likely to have been used to commit crimes."

Patrick Ellis, chairman of CrimeStoppers, agreed that the program would have the double advantage of removing guns from the street as well as catching criminals.

"Hopefully, in the process of confiscating a weapon, we’ll confiscate a criminal at the same time," he said.

The system can be successful in Durham because it targets a particular segment of the population, Tennyson said.

"It’s consistent with my view that there is a very small group practicing criminal activity," he said. "We need to focus on those criminals."

CrimeStoppers will field calls from people offering tips and will be prepared to act immediately in urgent situations, such as reports of a gun at a school, Tennyson said in a press release.

"If the tip reports an immediate danger, such as the presence of a gun in a school building, CrimeStoppers will refer the information directly to the 911 dispatcher for immediate action," he said, adding that "one of the main targets in this program is children bringing guns to school."

Tennyson said the idea to offer rewards for information on illegal guns came from Charleston, S.C., where a similar program operates. In February, he and Police Chief Teresa Chambers traveled to New York City, where a gun bounty program had been initiated a month earlier.

When Tennyson returned to Durham, he began soliciting funds to pay for the $250 rewards. Those who donated were enthusiastic about the measure, he said.

"The general response was compliance and immediate support," Tennyson said of the 13 businesses and several anonymous individuals who donated. "For one thing, it is a concept that involves having a measurable outcome. So, particularly for people in the business community, that kind of progress makes a lot of sense."

Overall, the program has $20,000, which would support 80 payments, but Tennyson said he expects the fund to grow after the community witnesses its initial success.

"As we have need, I’m sure we’ll be able to replenish it," he said.

But the number of tips CrimeStoppers receives and the amount of payments made won’t necessarily be the best indicator of the program’s success, Tennyson said.

"Most importantly, what we’re talking about is making it more hazardous for criminals to arm themselves," he said. "So I expect the impact to be broader than the number of tips we have."

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001

Answers

This is just more political crap, in my humble opinion. It is being offered up to give the uneducated or naive the impression that he is serious about getting illegal guns off the market. The truth is that guns are a lucrative "black market" item, like any other highly controlled item that is in demand. Black markets always flourish, everywhere, even in the most brutal dictatorships. The way to remove the handgun problem is to make concealed carry permits readily available to the law abiding citizen under "must issue" laws. But that is a politically incorrect suggestion, so it will never be used.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001

Actually, I like this idea. It's not really to get guns off the street, it's a thinly-disguised method to nab convicted felons with guns, stolen guns or kids with guns on school property. The buy-back programs are such feel-good crap and Tennyson didn't support them; they just encourage crooks to steal guns to turn in for the money. I think this program has a chance. Hope so, anyway.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001

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