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http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/wanted_for_trade_one_police_cruiser_for_gun/13396/
By Carrie J. Sidener
Published: February 11, 2009
An old patrol car with a broken transmission just got a lease on a new life — as a refurbished and tricked-out ride for someone who hands over an unwanted firearm.
The 2004 Chevy Impala officially became a part of a community project to reduce the city’s gun violence at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. It is the cornerstone of collaboration between the Lynchburg Police Department, the Lynchburg Police Foundation and Churches United for Service.
Using community donations, the Impala will be repaired and enhanced. Officials are hoping that it will draw those who have a gun that they no longer have a use for, so the guns won’t end up on the street and possibly be used in the commission of a crime, said Capt. Brandon Zuidema of the Lynchburg Police Department.
“A tricked-out retired cruiser, it will be symbolic of the citizens having the opportunity to restore their personal lives from past struggles and difficult and help to become contributing members of the community,” he said.
Those who surrender a firearm at various city events that have not yet been scheduled will have their names entered in a drawing for the retired car, Zuidema said. With the exception of the winner, no one who surrenders a gun will be asked for their identification, only for a name and way to contact that person in the event that they do win.
There will be three to five surrender events where community members can turn in guns and see the car in the process of its restoration, Zuidema said. That restoration will be done through community donations. The Impala is worth about $700.
“We absolutely believe in people’s rights to bear arms,” Zuidema said. “However, there is violence and unintentional violence with people who don’t have a want or a need for firearms. They can turn them in to police.”
Curtis Roberts, with the Lynchburg Police Foundation, told city council that people coming together to turn an out-of-date car into something with value can serve as a symbol for refurbishing and rebuilding the lives of those in the community.
The Rev. James Coleman, of Churches United for Service, told city council that the partnership among the three entities is a great way to aid the community.
Chief Parks Snead said during the council meeting that over his more than 20-year career, he has been contacted by several people who wanted to turn in firearms for various reasons, including that they didn’t understand the weapon, that they didn’t want it in the house or that they didn’t want to make a mistake with that weapon that could shatter their lives.
Lynchburg has had gun surrender events, though the last was in the mid-1990s.
“A lot of people have wanted to dispose of guns in a safe, mature and legal way and this gives them that option,” Snead said.
http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/wanted_for_trade_one_police_cruiser_for_gun/13396/
By Carrie J. Sidener
Published: February 11, 2009
An old patrol car with a broken transmission just got a lease on a new life — as a refurbished and tricked-out ride for someone who hands over an unwanted firearm.
The 2004 Chevy Impala officially became a part of a community project to reduce the city’s gun violence at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. It is the cornerstone of collaboration between the Lynchburg Police Department, the Lynchburg Police Foundation and Churches United for Service.
Using community donations, the Impala will be repaired and enhanced. Officials are hoping that it will draw those who have a gun that they no longer have a use for, so the guns won’t end up on the street and possibly be used in the commission of a crime, said Capt. Brandon Zuidema of the Lynchburg Police Department.
“A tricked-out retired cruiser, it will be symbolic of the citizens having the opportunity to restore their personal lives from past struggles and difficult and help to become contributing members of the community,” he said.
Those who surrender a firearm at various city events that have not yet been scheduled will have their names entered in a drawing for the retired car, Zuidema said. With the exception of the winner, no one who surrenders a gun will be asked for their identification, only for a name and way to contact that person in the event that they do win.
There will be three to five surrender events where community members can turn in guns and see the car in the process of its restoration, Zuidema said. That restoration will be done through community donations. The Impala is worth about $700.
“We absolutely believe in people’s rights to bear arms,” Zuidema said. “However, there is violence and unintentional violence with people who don’t have a want or a need for firearms. They can turn them in to police.”
Curtis Roberts, with the Lynchburg Police Foundation, told city council that people coming together to turn an out-of-date car into something with value can serve as a symbol for refurbishing and rebuilding the lives of those in the community.
The Rev. James Coleman, of Churches United for Service, told city council that the partnership among the three entities is a great way to aid the community.
Chief Parks Snead said during the council meeting that over his more than 20-year career, he has been contacted by several people who wanted to turn in firearms for various reasons, including that they didn’t understand the weapon, that they didn’t want it in the house or that they didn’t want to make a mistake with that weapon that could shatter their lives.
Lynchburg has had gun surrender events, though the last was in the mid-1990s.
“A lot of people have wanted to dispose of guns in a safe, mature and legal way and this gives them that option,” Snead said.
