MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Myrtle Beach police said there are fewer on the streets after Saturday's "Gun Buyback" program. The event capped "Stop the Violence" week and police call the buyback a success. However, researchers said gun buyback programs, like the one held in Myrtle Beach, are not effective crime prevention tools.
According to the National Research Council, there's no evidence the buybacks reduce gun violence. Researchers said the guns usually surrendered are those that are least likely to be used in crimes.
The Myrtle Beach gun buyback program produced 140 weapons. Police counted one assault rifle, one sawed-off shotgun and 138 handguns.
"A lot of the handguns were left in people's houses that had been there for weeks and months at a time" said Officer Pete Woods, Myrtle Beach police. "Those are the guns that are normally taken in burglaries. Those are the guns that fall into the wrong people's hands."
Skeptics questioned whether last week's crime prevention efforts will have a lasting effect. Community organizers said they will continue their anti-violence campaign?
"We are going to continue meeting with the communities and addressing the issues" said Timothy McCray, community leader. "You'll see a lot of different activities going on really soon."
"This is not just the be all and end all" said Woods. "This gun buyback is just one part of the bigger picture in making this a safer community and safer city for everybody.
The Louisville, Kentucky Police Department has held gun buybacks for years. Officers there said there was no way to figure out if the guns collected had a direct impact on crime.
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