by Lee Pierre
S. Hale (Contributed)
It was a great day to turn in a gun, as many did at the second “Groceries Not Guns” event held Saturday, June 25, at the Melrose Community Action Center in the northwest. The community was encouraged to turn in firearms to receive a grocery gift card of $150 or $250 based on the type of firearm. For those who did not want to donate their gun, gunlocks were provided. Roanoke City Gun Violence Commission awarded a grant to the Roanoke Quakers who partnered with the Roanoke Branch NAACP and Roanoke City Police Department. The persons in attendance all felt that the event was one that would make Roanoke a safer place.
Mike Heller of the Roanoke Quaker Meeting said he experienced zero opposition from neighbors while distributing event flyers throughout the city last week and the gun buyback fits into the Quaker faith’s long history of nonviolence.
“The proliferation of guns in the U.S. system is related to the level of gun violence we have,” Heller said. “I reject the idea that ‘it’s people, not guns.’”
Between Jan. 1 and May 8, the Roanoke Police Department says there were 21 cases of gun-related aggravated assaults and six gun-related homicides in the city, up from the 13 aggravated assaults and five homicides at this time last year. There was also an increase from the 20 cases reported between Jan. 1 and April 12, based on a report from Roanoke’s Gun Violence Prevention Commission.
Roanoke City Sheriff Antonio Hash spoke highly of the event noting that events such as this are what make Roanoke a safer city. “The support from those individuals who are going to get rid of firearms from their home so they won’t get back into the community is a good thing. From my standpoint, I wish we could still find other ways to reach those individuals in the community who we know have weapons, we need to find a way to reach those individuals, but it’s a start! If we don’t start, then we can’t finish.”
NAACP Roanoke Branch President Brenda Hale said strengthening community partnerships enabled this second gun buyback to grow since the first event held in August 2021. Grocery stores, nonprofits, churches, and local police all collaborated to make the event happen. Medical personnel from LewisGale and Carilion were also in attendance.
“It takes all of us to make things successful in our community. If you look at the fact that we are seven-time All-American city awardees and we are not doing anything about the gun violence, but eventually we will conquer this epidemic of violence,” Hale said.
“We are out here to help the community. Gun violence is not going to go away. With increased shootings in northwest Roanoke, we remain hopeful and are making a concerted effort to do something,” Hale added.
Criminal Investigator Lt. Eric Thiel commented that the primary focus is violence intervention and an increase in the involvement we have with the community.
“If this event can stop one gun from being used in violence, that’s our primary motivation. There are multiple impacts when a firearm is either unsecured or left out and can get stolen, enter the black market, and possibly be used in the commission of a crime. There’s verification that there is a need and a desire in this community, and we get our power from the community. Having an opportunity to partner with the community to do something good builds relationships,” Thiel said. “All the guns exchanged Saturday will be melted down and not returned to the community.
Jayveon Tucker, president of Roanoke Chapter NAACP Youth Council, was very adamant in his feelings about the event and the future of Roanoke.
“I think this event is a giant step forward. I hear a lot of youth saying, ‘I can’t wait to get out of Roanoke’.” Instead of getting out of Roanoke, we need to create new initiatives to make Roanoke a better place to keep those here and attract others to come.”
“As a member of the community, you have the responsibility on lots of levels. I’ve traveled all over the world and people here are very fortunate to live in this country. I try to do my part to help the community as best I can. I hope that they have another such event and it will be held soon,” said an anonymous citizen.
“The outcome is to create a safer Roanoke City and Southwestern Virginia. It comes from helping people have safety in their homes,” said Catherine Koebel, a staunch anti-gun advocate and founder of ‘Groceries Not Guns.’ She feels that safety can be achieved from gunlocks as well as not having a gun in the home, stating “The best way to avoid gun violence is to not have one in your home. Having a gun in the home increases homicide and suicide.”
“I believe we gave out close to $29,000 in grocery gift cards and collected 151 guns, we bought 145 of them with some donated,” said Koebel, who feels that the event could not have been successful without the strong support and community partnerships.
