Lynn officials wary of proposal to trade guns for cash

LYNN – A new program aimed at getting guns off city streets and out of the hands of gangbangers is causing a stir amongst city politicians who believe criminals could receive a get-out-of-jail-free card by means of its no-questions asked policy.”Cash for Guns” is a program in the works through the Lynn-based Saving Our Souls Foundation (SOS), which recently reached out to the Lynn Police Department for input and support. The idea is to hand over up to $200 to anyone who brings a gun to the event, no questions asked.”It’s a big task and a challenge, but we want to help change lives into more productive ones,” said Executive Director Pamela Burton. “It’s also an issue that needs to be addressed because our youth are dying.”Police Chief Kevin Coppinger said Monday he was reserving judgment on the SOS proposal, because he didn’t know exactly what it called for, but generally said similar programs have not worked as intended and agencies end up paying for older, unused weapons.”You’re not getting the guns that are being used in the street,” Coppinger said.The police chief said he’d rather see efforts aimed at reducing the amount of guns that are being bought in New Hampshire, Maine or Vermont and then being brought into the city and “being used here.”City Councilor at large Daniel Cahill said he would be all for the program if it involved cash for old or broken guns that could be accidentally set off. But for relatively new, stolen, or other guns possibly used in crimes, Cahill said he is against the issue.”There is definitely a need and desire to get unwanted and unused guns off the streets and out of the hands of young people,” Cahill said. “But on the flip side, there is also a need to protect the victims of violence from criminals potentially disposing of evidence in a manner that is anonymous.”Burton said the faith-based, non-profit SOS will celebrate its one-year anniversary on July 17, and has since been involved in several programs educating city youth on bullying and the dangers of gangs. Burton, who works alongside city advocate Darrell Murkison, is confident that the program will work, citing its success in several other states.She hopes to focus on collecting handguns, pistols, semi-automatic guns and revolvers, any kind of gun really, even those with scratched off serial numbers.”The youth will come to us more than go to the police to turn over their weapons,” Burton said. “We’re here to help them have a happy, healthy, meaningful life, not to hurt them. I believe that in some way, they (troubled youth) have gotten lost in their upbringing or growing up in Lynn itself. And carrying even one gun (unlicensed) could land them in jail for a few years.”Cahill said for him, red flags pop up when it comes to being able to hand over a gun without consequence.”It’s illegal to posses a firearm without an FID card, so how can a group not affiliated with law enforcement say they can give amnesty from a state statute?” Cahill said. “This seems so simple, but it really takes a lot of planning and cooperation with local and state agencies.”One agency that is not entirely comfortable with the notion of cash for guns is District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s office, which has consistently opposed such programs, according to spokesman Steve O’Connell.”A weapon used in a homicide or other serious crime could be turned in with no questions asked and jeopardize a prosecution,” he said.Ward 3 City Councilor Darren Cyr also disagreed with the program, saying sometimes community groups that try to do a good thing often have the program backfire on them.”I don’t see a gangbanger walking in off the street with a gun unless it’s a stolen gun and they’re looking to get rid of it,” Cyr said. “And the average little kid who finds a gun is going to want to know how to use it, because that’s how people are.”Cyr went on to say that he thinks people might actually go to the lengths of stealing guns to make a little money.”I have an issue with the don’t