Philadelphia

Northeast Philly Gun Buyback Takes Aim at Firearms on City Streets

Philadelphia's 15th Police District is holding an event this weekend aimed at getting guns off the city's streets.

On Saturday, anyone can turn in guns -- no questions asked -- during a buyback between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Engine 38 firehouse, at Magee Avenue and Keystone Street in Tacony.

In return for turning in an unloaded gun, $50 grocery store gift cards will be given out.

The 15th Police District, which covers Frankford, Wissinoming, Tacony and Mayfair, in recent years has been the busiest district in Philadelphia in terms of the number of calls its officers respond to each year.

The district also sees its share of gun violence, with 66 shooting victims and 14 gun homicides there last year.

Philadelphia's overall homicide count is up year-to-date, with 260 homicides so far this year, compared with 241 as of the same date in 2014, and 235 as of the same date in 2013.

Each year, more than 80 percent of the homicides in Philadelphia are committed with guns, according to police statistics.

Contact Us