A gun buyback held in Sunset Park this weekend took 67 weapons off the street.
The first of its kind in the city, organized by the Sunset Park Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District, the 72
nd Precinct and the Kings County district attorneys office, the buyback was held at the Beit El-Maqdis Islamic Center on Sixth Avenue near 62
nd Street.The weapons surrendered include 37 revolvers, 28 semi-automatic pistols and a zip and BB gun. Seven of the handguns were defaced and three were loaded. One notable surrender was a Mac 11 semi-automatic with a 30 round magazine.Renee Giordano, executive director of the Sunset Park Fifth Avenue BID, said that the event benefitted the community as a whole.It was very successful. Its really wonderful having the community come together, she said. It was sponsored by property and business owners of Fifth Avenue in order to make a better place for customers and local residents, and it was the first time anyone outside of an elected official sponsored [a gun buyback].Giordano noted that this was also the first ever buyback held in a mosque.I felt it brought together different parts of our community to create a safer neighborhood, she said.The Brooklyn Chinese Association, Amalgamated Bank, the Law Office of Delvis Valdes, Esq., Stomp, La Vida, the Law Office of Patrick Hayes, Esq., Nancy Ruiz, Investigator, Kenby Pharmacy, Uncle Louie G & Cupcake Stand, Rising Sun Alarm, Sunset Park Security Training and Sunset Park Security Services sponsored the event.
