–Photo by S. Hale
By Shawn Nowlin
We are just past the halfway mark of 2024 and shootings in Roanoke have already claimed the lives of multiple people.
Concerned individuals from different factions of the city came together on Saturday, June 22 at the Community Action Center om Melrose Ave. to serve a common purpose: get as many firearms off the streets in exchange for grocery gift cards.
Increasing public awareness about owning firearms and the safety risks they can present was another objective of the event. A collaborative effort between the Roanoke City Police Department, Roanoke Branch NAACP and the Roanoke Quakers, no ID was required to attend or participate.
By noon, organizers say they ran out of gift cards. More than 150 guns were ultimately turned in and reportedly will ultimately be melted down. Gun locks were also given for interested individuals to take home. Police were on the scene to make sure things ran smoothly.
Combatting local gun violence head-on requires a collaborative community effort, something that President of the Roanoke Branch of NAACP Brenda Hale regularly emphasizes.
“I am happy that more women came out this year. I am grateful for the partnerships that we have been able to create. People can come here and there will be nothing negative about their experience,” Hale said.
She added, “We are striving to have a safe environment for everyone. If you have a gun in your home, it is a potential risk. Because we put so much energy into making sure this event is successful, once a year is very productive.”
Those with a gun in the household are two times more likely at risk of suicide.
“If you are going to have a gun in the home, it should be in a place where you have to get up and walk to it, not underneath the bed. This is because when you are walking, you become more alert. I am glad that people took advantage of this opportunity today,” Police Sergeant Ronnie Hodges said.
The buyback program came less than a month after a William Fleming student was killed in Ferncliff Apartments. The number of people throughout the Roanoke Valley who have tragically lost their lives to gun violence since the turn of the century is easily in the hundreds.
A person could turn in as many firearms as they wanted last Saturday. Ultimately, $28,600 worth of gift cards were handed out.
All signs point to the Fifth Groceries Not Guns event happening in 2025.
“This year was a success. A lot of semi-automatic guns were turned in. We plan to have even more gift cards next year,” Dr. Catherine Koebel said.
Event organizing partner Mike Heller, pleased about the event’s success said all gift cards were traded for guns. Heller spoke highly of the collaborative efforts of the Roanoke Police Depatment who came out in full force ensuring the event’s safety and success.
–Photo by S. Hale
