Cameras For Guns Amnesty Unveiled
Posted October 22, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s an unlikely partnership, but Toronto Police and photography chain, Henry’s Cameras, are hoping it will mean fewer guns on the streets.
Their amnesty program, Pixels for Pistols, calls for people with working – including illegal – firearms to trade them for digital cameras and photography lessons from Henry’s. Shortly after the initiative started Wednesday morning, police reported 12 guns had been collected.
In his announcement, Police chief Bill Blair stated, “We know that the presence of a handgun in a community, in a home, in the hands of a young person, and, in particular, in the hands of a criminal represents a danger to everyone in our city.”
For one month, participants can turn in their guns to police and receive a gift card that can be redeemed at one of four Henry’s locations in Toronto. The so-called reward will depend on the type of weapon. A handgun, machine gun or assault rifle will get owners a Nikon Coolpix S52. People can exchange rifles or shotguns for a Nikon Coolpix P60.
Participants with unregistered firearms will avoid facing criminal possession charges. However, police will investigate if they suspect the gun was used to commit a crime.
Author Rodrigo Buchanan, who has written about gun culture, says it’s a start but not a solution. “If people are expecting…criminals to hand in their guns, it’s not going to happen because of those parameters. Really what the program is good for is for people who don’t have a good disposal option for their guns.”
To surrender a gun, call Toronto Police Services at (416) 808-2222 from 7am to 7pm and arrange for pick-up. Do not drop it off at Henry’s. The program runs until November 23rd and is only available to residents of Toronto.
For more on Pixels for Pistols, click here.
