Community Corner
Falls Supervisors Debate Gun Buy-Back
Falls Township may finalize plans for a gun buy-back program at its July 16 meeting.
In an effort to curb crime and gun violence, Falls Township is considering a gun buy-back program.
The program was discussed at the June 18 board of supervisors meeting, were members of the Falls Township Police Department presented potential details of the program.
According to Falls Police Sgt. Bryan White, much of the township’s gun buy-back program will be based on similar programs conducted by other municipalities, including Bristol and Bensalem townships.
Find out what's happening in Levittownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The gun buy back program is expected to allow for completely anonymous drop offs of any kind of firearms.
The guns themselves may be separated into three categories, with each expected to carry to a different price tag, based off of varying degrees of firepower. Based off of Bensalem’s previous gun buy-back program, Falls Township may purchase $200 for assault rifles, $100 for semi-automatic firearms and $50 for pistols and hunting rifles.
Find out what's happening in Levittownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Guns collected will likely be sent to a facility near Pottstown, Montgomery County, to be destroyed.
According to Whyte, Bensalem Township purchased over 300 firearms, most of them hunting rifles. He also said that most of the township’s funds used to purchase the guns were through federal grants.
A few of the public comments disagreed that any taxpayer money should be used to purchase the firearms, and that the guns should be volunteered for safe disposal. One resident said that the program may be ineffectual.
“Every gun that gets turned in is one less gun that Sgt. Whyte, Lt. Ward and the police department have to worry about,” Robert Harvie, chair of the Falls Board of Supervisors, said. He added that unwanted or unused guns in the home are less likely to be stolen or accidentally placed in the hands of children.
According to Whyte, the gun buy-back program in Falls Township may occur sometime in the fall, and likely on a Saturday. A location and further details still need to be discussed.
A final discussion over program details is expected to be held at the next board meeting, July 16.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
