East Harlem Parish Helps to Get 229 Guns Off the Streets

By MARY ANN POUST

Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in East Harlem had a busy day recently as a site for a police—run Cash for Guns program during which 229 guns were swapped for $200 each.

Altogether, 744 guns were collected at the five Harlem—area churches that participated in the no—questions—asked program, where people who surrendered working firearms got a $200 bank card.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the only Catholic church participating, drew the largest number during the four—hour program on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 25.

"I told the police, 'I hope you don't think we're in a bad neighborhood,' " joked Father Anthony Kelly, S.A.C., administrator of the East 115th Street parish.

"There were a lot of people—young people, old people, men and women—but not all of them were from the neighborhood," he told CNY.

"They brought rifles, handguns," he said. "Some of the guns were brand new, never used; others looked like antiques."

In one case, he said, a man had bought a hunting rifle more than 20 years ago but died before he could use it. His widow left it untouched; then, when she died, her children found it in the house and decided to turn it in.

Father Kelly said the gun—swappers even included an elderly woman in a wheelchair, who was carried in her chair by police officers down to the basement—level parish hall where the guns were collected.

"They didn't want to make any transactions outside, so they picked her up and carried her down. She must have been 75, 80 years old," he said, adding that the church does not have a handicapped—access ramp to the lower floor.

Father Kelly said the woman turned in a small handgun that she had had in her possession for many years.

"She really wanted to turn it in," he said. "She was very proud of herself."

The Cash for Guns program is a joint operation of the New York City Police Department and the district attorneys of the boroughs where the collections are held.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said a recent program held in Brooklyn brought in 1,535 guns in three days.

Announcing the Harlem program, Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau said, "In order to significantly reduce crime, we must get illegal guns off the streets."

He said he especially wanted to thank the clergy members "who have literally opened up their doors to aid in ridding the streets of these deadly weapons."

Father Kelly, who observed the program in between conducting two baptisms and an afternoon wedding, said that the first question the police asked of people who participated was whether the guns were loaded.

"A lot of people said they didn't know," he said.

The guns collected at Our Lady of Mount Carmel included 64 revolvers, 41 semi—automatic pistols, four sawed—off shotguns, five assault weapons, 62 rifles, 29 shotguns and 24 classified as "other," which could include BB guns and air pistols, a spokesman for Morgenthau said.

Father Kelly said that if asked, he would host the program again.

"It's something good for the community," he said.

Return to CNY Homepage