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NYPD Nets Dozens Of Guns In Brooklyn Buyback

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The NYPD said 71 firearms were turned in during a one-day gun buyback program in Brooklyn.

Twenty-three semi-automatic weapons, including a fully-loaded Tec-9, were turned in Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Brownsville. There also were 31 revolvers, seven rifles and shotguns and 10 zip or starter guns.

"A fully loaded assault weapon designed to destroy human life was removed from circulation, and thousands of others collected through the cash for guns program no longer have the potential to kill," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.

Under the program, individuals can anonymously surrender firearms in exchange for $200 bank cards for working handguns and $20 for rifles or BB guns.

Gun owners can also turn in weapons anonymously at any police station year round and receive $100.

The Operation GunStop program (1-866-GUN-STOP) also offers rewards up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of an individual who is carrying, selling or using guns illegally.

Police say turning in guns prevents the weapons from getting into the hands of criminals.

Tec 9
This fully loaded Tec-9 was surrended during a cash for guns event in Brooklyn on June 25, 2011 (credit: NYPD)

Since the program began in 2008, the city says 6,973 guns have been surrendered to the NYPD.

Do you think these gun buyback programs are effective? Sound off in our comments section below…

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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