The City Council adopted a gun buy-back program at its meeting Monday evening but not every councilperson agreed with Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. who proposed the plan as just one part of the effort to solve the problem of gun violence and deaths.
Williams proposed using $25,000 of American Rescue Plan Act money to finance the plan that will offer money to residents who turn in guns. Williams had a video shown about a similar program in Columbus, Ohio in which 344 guns were turned in while the city spent $136,000 on gift cards to those turning in guns for which fair market value was paid.
Williams said he hoped this would be one part of a multifaceted plan to stop gun violence.