Conway hopes this planned gun program will keep firearms out of the hands of criminals
The City of Conway could attempt another voluntary gun buy-back program in hopes of getting criminal weapons off the street.
Ten thousand dollars are currently allocated in the fiscal year 2021 budget draft allowing city police to buy a gun from anyone who drops it off.
“Let’s try it this year and if it doesn’t work we won’t do it again,” Council Member Larry White said.
The buy-back program was included in the draft budget at city council’s retreat in Pinopolis on Friday. Plans could change as council and city staff fine-tune the budget.
White said this is an attempt to place unused or unwanted guns into safe care so they don’t end up in the hands of criminals who may try to harm others. In 2014, the city did a gun buyback program and purchased 122 firearms.
The program would be entirely optional and is not a gun control law. Any resident would be able to take a broken or working firearm to the city and exchange it for a Walmart gift card. The amount the city would be willing to pay for a firearm would depend on the type of gun. At the maximum, an assault rifle is worth $200.
Council Member William Goldfinch said he was neutral on the program. He said it shows residents that the city is trying to keep its police officers out of harm’s way, but he doesn’t think it will be effective because criminals won’t willingly give up their guns.
“It looks good for the city because it shows we’re trying to do something, but it’s not effective,” he said.
Once the guns are purchased, the city owns them and probably won’t resell them. They’ll most likely be melted down.
