South Brunswick to Explore Gun Amnesty Program

In light of the most recent mass shooting to hit the U.S., the South Brunswick Township Council said Tuesday they will explore available options for a gun amnesty program.

At this week's council meeting, former Republican Councilman John O'Sullivan spoke during the public portion of the meeting and asked the council to consider a measure that he said could help safeguard South Brunswick from the potential of gun violence.

"As we know maintaining the safety, heath and welfare of the residents are the important functions of government and an amnesty program can be a way of moving toward those goals," O'Sullivan said. "We are all aware, now more than ever, about people having legal licensed and illegal unlicensed weapons and some being used to commit crimes. The idea of a gun amnesty program is to help get unlicensed and illegal weapons off our streets."

O'Sullivan added that the police department could set up a specific date where residents can turn in their weapons under a grant of amnesty, which he noted has been done by many towns and cities in the U.S.

The issue of gun control was thrust back into the national spotlight following the at an elementary school in Connecticut late last year. The shootings came less than six months after the murder of a dozen people at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo.

A 2003 report by UCLA researchers found the firearm homicide rate in the United States to be 19.5 times higher than in other high-income countries. 

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in excess of two-thirds of all homicides (1,493) in 2009 were from firearms. It's also estimated that half of all suicides are by gun, with 83 percent of gun-related deaths in the home as the result of a suicide, often committed by someone who was not the owner of the gun, according to the study.

Last year, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office held a gun buy back program that offered $80 for handguns and $150 for assault weapons.

"Most guns are owned by law-abiding people," the prosecutor's office said via release. "But, guns may be stolen in a burglary, found by a child even if the gun is locked up, used unexpectedly during a heated argument or during a time of great stress. Tragedies do happen with guns owned by good citizens."

In speaking to the council, O'Sullivan urged the township to take action in a move that he said would improve safety for the residents of South Brunswick.

"South Brunswick may have done (a gun amnesty program) before in conjunction with county or state agencies, but I am asking that we move ahead with a gun amnesty program now, on our own, without the delays of waiting for coordination with other groups," O'Sullivan said. "I am not asking for a buy back program, where you would need to secure funding. After all, the sooner we get guns off our streets the safer everyone will be. I don’t know how many weapons would be turned in, but just getting any off our streets would be a step in the right direction.”

Council members expressed their willingness to support the idea and planned to hold discussions with police and the county about any available options.

"I think (the gun amnesty) program is a good idea in light of the events from the last couple of months," said Councilman Charles Carley. "This type of thing is usually spearheaded by the County Prosecutor's Office. So we can contact the Prosecutor's Office and see what we can do."