Hundreds of guns off the streets

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Hundreds of guns are off the streets thanks to a group of Indianapolis Clergy. The Baptist Ministers Alliance hosted a gun buyback program and in three hours with the help of IMPD, they filled dozens of boxes with all types of unwanted guns.

On a Saturday afternoon outside the Challenge Foundation on the city's east side...dozens of cars filled the parking lot to get rid guns.

"If we get one gun, we've been satisfactory," said Dr. Michael J. Bluitt with the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.

But one gun multiplied into hundreds.

"There's a plethora of pistols, riffles, sawed-offs, all type of guns," Dr. Bluitt said.

Members of the Baptist Ministers and Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance hosted a gun buy back program. For each weapon turned in the owner received fifty dollars cash.

And even before the event started people like Dean Schnellinger started showing up.

"I seen the article in the paper this morning and I thought, it's about time to get rid of the gun," Schnellinger said.

Schnellinger wanted to get rid of a handgun.

"I've had this gun probably half a dozen years or so. It's a 9mm. It was a present from a friend years ago and I don't have much use for it anymore. I like to keep it out of the wrong hands," he said.

"We're seeing young people, we're seeing old people, we're seeing black people, we're seeing Marion County residents," Dr. Bluitt said.

IMPD officers checked out the weapons and tagged them - no questions asked.

"I know this way, it will be taking care of; it's not going to cause any harm anywhere," said Schnellinger.

Randall Cox turned in his 25 Automatic.

"I've had it for years and it's just been sitting collecting dust, I thought today would be a good time to get rid of it," he said.

Organizers said there's one good reason why they held the program - to bring back peace in the streets.

"If we can save one mother to go look a funeral director in his face and make arrangement for her baby boy or baby girl, we've been successful," said Dr. Bluitt.

IMPD collected 250 guns and organizers gave away 12,500 dollars in cash. All of the guns collected will be destroyed.