Photograph by Don NolteJanuary 2013Omega Boys’ & Girls’ Club Gun Buy BackLate last year a long line stretched past Dogpatch Saloon to the Omega Boys Club, located at 1060 Tennessee Street. Upwards of 150 people queued-up to participate in the annual Gun Buy Back event. The Club paid $200 a piece for a working firearm, spending in excess of $25,000 all in to purchase more than one hundred weapons. More people than expected came to the event; some IOUs had to be issued. The number one reason people gave for turning in their guns was the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut.“That was a huge motivator for people,” said Andre Aikins, the Club’s operations manager. Others came in as part of their Christmas celebrations, stating that they had guns they weren’t using, and didn’t want others to get hurt. The people turning in the guns were from every racial background and age group, Aikins said, with as many women as men. The Omega Boys Club’s mission is “to keep young people alive and free,” said Aikins. |
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