COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) -- Just give us the guns. No questions asked.
The Columbus Police Department may be joining forces with other city officials, faith-based organizations and members of the community to reduce the number of firearms in town.
If all goes as planned in the form of approval from the Columbus City Council, four locations would be made available to surrender guns on a designated Saturday.
Buy back prices range from $20 for bb guns and air pistols.
Hand guns would would be purchased for $100.
Rifles and shot guns would be $200 and assault rifles would be worth $300.
Funds to purchase weapons would come from a variety of sources including the city of Columbus, business leaders and churches.
"We want to make Columbus the safest city in Mississippi and I think this is the first step in that endeavor," Councilman Kabir Karriem said.
"Rather than allow the criminal element to break in to the home and steal the guns, turn them in and get then off the streets," Police Chief Selvain McQueen said.
Officials say this effort would not be a sting operation.
All weapons would be checked for lost or stolen status.
