Gun Buyback at St. Michael’s a Success!
By Rev. Dr. Timothy Flynn
On Saturday, Oct. 1, St. Michael’s held a gun buyback event in their parking lot at 6500 Amwood Dr. in south Lansing. With seed money from the Diocese of Michigan in addition to the parish, St. Michael’s also received donations from individuals and from the First Congregational UCC Church of Charlotte.
Hopeful for modest results, we discovered that cars began to line up along Amwood Dr. well before our start time! At one point we counted 25 cars in line to turn in all types of unwanted guns. Some people were so appreciative of the event that they refused payment for their guns, and others even contributed cash to help in our effort.
Officers from the Lansing Police Department and the Ingham County Sheriff’s Department were on hand to receive, inspect, and secure the weapons as well as to run the serial numbers. Afterwards, the guns were passed on to the Michigan State Police who will destroy them. Also present were members of the Meta Peace Team to help in the event of protesters as well as a representative of the Lansing chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
The officers estimated that the event took in “at least 30” guns including rifles, handguns, and semi-automatic weapons. Free gun locks were also offered to participants. The event was covered by WILX channel 10.
We, at St. Michael’s, offer Bishop Perry and the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, much thanks for their support of this endeavor.