The First Baptist Church of Glenarden and Zion Church are teaming up with the Prince George’s County Police Department to offer cash gifts for guns on Nov. 18.
This is the second year that the two mega-churches have given out thousands of dollars in gift cards, which is part of an enforcement effort aimed at getting guns off the streets.
The anonymous buyback program will take place this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Glenarden, Parking Lot B, 600 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
In exchange for each weapon, donors will receive cards with various cash points based on the type of gun. Shotguns and rifles can be traded in for $75, handguns for $125, and automatic or semi-automatic guns for $175.
“The church must play an active role to work with our local government to help to keep our communities safe,” said the Rev. John K. Jenkins Sr., senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Glenarden, in a statement. “In addition to prayer and fasting, there are practical ways to reduce gun violence on our streets.”
The buyback program the two churches had with the Prince George’s County Police Department last year has resulted in the collection of 1200 weapons and Pastor Jenkins said the program works.
Jenkins added that the buyback program is a safe and anonymous way for people to exchange their firearms in return for gift cards– “no questions asked.”
Daniel Williams, spokesperson for Zion Church, said unlike past gun buyback programs, this year youth from the church will share their perspectives about community safety and gun violence.
“A few months back, Zion hosted the funeral for the 16-year-old young lady who was killed through gun violence at Duval High School,” Williams said,” this is a topic that is very important and relevant to us.”
Prince George’s County Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay applauded the efforts of the two churches to curtail gun violence.
“It takes a village, the police can’t do this alone, everyone needs to be part of this effort.”
On Nov. 7, the Council held a town hall where lawmakers, clients and dozens of care providers talked about various issues involving mental health.
“Our public safety partners have stated that mental health has a correlation to some of those committing crimes because people are not addressing their mental health problems,” Blegay said.
For more information on the gun buyback, visit fbcglenarden.org/gunbuyback.
The verbiage is comedic and yet, rather revealing….
“Shotguns and rifles can be traded in for $75, handguns for $125, and automatic or semi-automatic guns for $175.”
Unless it’s a revolver, most handguns are semiautomatic. I don’t know of any that are automatic.
What if a person turns in a semiautomatic shotgun?
But an automatic gun for only $175….??
Another means of reducing so-called “gun violence” in the community is firearms safety classes.
In these classes, we teach that guns are tools and are only weapons when used as such. As with all tools, one must secure it so that those who may injure themselves or others with it don’t have access to it.
While I respect the efforts of First Baptist of Glenarden and Zion Church to address the issue of crime in our community by partnering with the Prince George’s Police Gun Buyback Program, I share some concerns regarding their approach. I believe that it’s essential that we engage in open dialogue about this matter. Just a side note, Jesus did suggest that his disciples acquire swords in Luke 22:36 and it’s crucial to consider this within its historical and cultural context a sword in Jesus era would be a gun in the 21st century.
My concern comes with the idea of disarming law-abiding citizens, as responsible gun ownership is a fundamental right protected by the Second Amendment. The concept of a well-regulated militia is indeed enshrined in our Constitution, and responsible citizens play a role in ensuring the security of our nation.
I suggest bringing in Firearm Instructors and teaching responsible gun ownership and education within the church, schools and community as a solution. Firearms instructors can help educate individuals about safe and responsible gun ownership practices. Such initiatives can complement gun buyback programs and amnesty initiatives which I believe only serves to disarm law abiding citizens and provide amnesty to criminals looking for a way to rid themselves of guns used in the commission of a crime.