Gun buyback program in Bridgeport

Bridgeport, Conn. (WTNH) - On the heels of a particularly violent summer, the city of Bridgeport is launching a gun buyback program in an effort to get illegal weapons off the streets.

Police and city officials met Wednesday night to talk about the program and other ways to quell the recent rash of violence in the Park City.

There have been 19 homicides in Bridgeport so far this year and community leaders say they're ready to try just about anything.

“The best thing we can do is look at the other models of the program that we're trying to implement here, and I think it can be successful,” said Pastor David Miller with the New Hope Baptist Church. “But as long as people are out of work, and as long as there's drugs, there's always gonna be crime."

The Housing Authority has pitched in $5,000 to get the gun buyback program up and running.

In the proposed plan people who hand over their guns will get gift cards from local businesses, and there will be no questions asked.

The program will kick off on September 2nd.