NEW YORK (AP) -- Law enforcement authorities are inviting people to turn in their illegal guns this weekend for $200 -- no questions asked.
The program will be held Saturday at six churches in Brooklyn. People can turn in rifles, handguns and shotguns -- even if they're loaded -- as long as they're in plastic or paper bags or shoe boxes.
Each gun is worth a $200 Chase Bank card -- limit three per person. BB guns and air pistols are worth $20 each.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly promises the transactions will remain anonymous. He said the aim is to get weapons off the streets.
``Unfortunately, Brooklyn and New York City are still very much awash with guns,'' Kelly said. ``Police officers put themselves at great risk to make gun arrests.''
Plainclothes officers will be on hand at the churches to accept the firearms, and officials said anyone stopped en route to the drop-off points with handguns won't be prosecuted as long as the weapons are bagged or boxed.
Randolph Ferdinand, pastor of the Helping Hands Ministry, which is one of the participating churches, said he hopes the program is successful.
``We're in the middle of the mess,'' he said. ``But we believe all things are possible, and we want a better life for our young people.''
Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes said a similar initiative netted nearly 600 guns in 1999 and 650 in 2000. He said there was a marked decrease in gun violence after the programs.
This year, city officials have $300,000 to spend on 1,500 weapons and are hoping to run out of money.
The police department has an ongoing cash-for-guns program in which guns can be dropped off at any police station in exchange for $100. So far, the department has spent about $450,000 and received more than 4,000 guns.
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