Capital Region News

Capital District Summer Gun Buyback Initiative

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Published June 15, 2016 at 4:21 PM EDT

If you have an assault rifle or illegal handgun, you have a chance to turn it in.

Albany’s Victory Christian Church, under the direction of Pastor Charlie Muller, has been overseeing gun buyback programs since 2008. Bring a gun to the Quail Street house of worship and you get a gift card that can be redeemed at a local shopping mall. During the month of May at least 25 handguns were collected. The recent shootings in Orlando have prompted Muller and the church to hold a buyback day Saturday. From 9 to noon, anyone in the Albany-Troy-Schenectady area can turn a firearm in for a gift card, no questions asked.

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Dave Lucas

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

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