By Ione Hess
September 24, 2007

Chicago, just like other cities around the country, is determined to keep guns out of the streets. Everybody agree that it is not an easy task, but the efforts of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley have produce success through Gun Turn-In events. The efforts also include marches and campaigns to get the citizens involved in the idea that safe communities keep the hope of a better a tomorrow.

Daley emphasizes constantly that “Guns are involved in 80 percent of all homicides in Chicago and in the vast majority of armed robberies,” In a news conference during the latest turn-in event held in July, Daley added that, “Simple quarrels can, and often do, escalate into homicides, simply because a gun was available. Fewer guns on the streets mean fewer deaths and crippling injuries; fewer armed robberies and assaults.”

The gun trade-in event was held on Saturday July 21st in 23 locations across the city of Chicago with an overwhelming response. Members of the clergy, Chicago Police Department’s CAPS Implementation Office, and others, volunteered for the event which traded guns ‘no-questions-ask’ for $100.00 pre-paid credit card. The city also traded in BB guns, replica or air guns for a $10 prepaid credit card.

According to the city, the purpose was to highlight the impact of gun violence on the community and especially on the parents and families of victims.

The numbers speak volumes about the response from the community:

The July event collected 6,069 standard guns and 648 BB, replica and air guns.

Two Turn-In events last year collected 4,322 guns.

Daley knows that the people of Chicago cannot be safe without the help and commitment of its citizens. It is essential to create consciousness regarding the danger of allowing guns to move freely in the streets. “It’s impossible to say how many lives have been saved, how many crippling injuries have been averted, through this program — but I can say this: If we kept just one gun out of the hands of a potential criminal, it was well worth the effort,” summarized Daley after the Trade-In event.

The Chicago Police Department says is already leading in seizing and destroying illegal guns in the nation. They are committed to continuing to work year after year in seizing and confiscating illegal firearms. Last year alone the department confiscated more than 12,000 guns.

But the gun trade-in initiatives are part of a broader strategy. Daley announced back in February that the city will provide financial support for two community-based organizations to provide one'stop services for ex-offenders. Daley said that the community faces another huge challenge with the release of around 20,000 ex-offenders to the streets of Chicago every year, especially to the South and West sides. And his office is working on different programs to give opportunities to ex-offenders to turn their lives around to successfully re-enter society.

So far, the success of the strategy is giving Daley motivation to keep going. Since the Gun Turn-In has been well received by the community, the Mayor plans to repeat the event in the near future. Also, the CAPS Implementation office of the Chicago Police Department is already planning a regional Gun Turn-In event with the surrounding suburbs for 2008.