Nashville Starts Gun Retrieval Program to Address High Crime Rate

Citing the city’s high crime rate, members of the Metro Nashville Office of Alternative Policing Strategies this week announced a new gun retrieval program.

The Tennessee Star on Thursday contacted Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) spokesman Steven Bowers. We asked what measures Metro officials enacted to ensure that criminals don’t use this program to get rid of guns that could link them to various crimes?

“When those guns are turned in, the police still do checks on those weapons or trace them to see if they are connected to another crime. They are also checked to see if they are stolen,” Bowers said.

“As far as someone dropping a weapon off, we take into consideration that that weapon is turned in, and it cannot be used in future violent crimes.”

The Star also asked Bowers about MNPD officials’ plans for those guns long-term.

“They have retention periods on how long they keep different types of property, but sometimes depending on how long they keep them I know that, eventually, the property gets destroyed,” Bowers said.

“But if that gun has been used in a crime, then that gun may be kept for evidence purposes for that particular case.”

Yes, Every Kid

MNPD officials said in a statement that criminals in Davidson County stole more than 1,300 guns from vehicles last year. So far this year, more than 70 percent of all guns reported stolen were taken from vehicles. Criminals use a large portion of those stolen weapons to commit more violent crimes.

“Participating churches will now offer a no-questions-asked process where community members can anonymously turn in firearms,” according to the MNPD statement.

In a new study conducted by WalletHub, the city of Nashville ranked fourth overall in having the highest crime rates per 1,000 residents among state capitals in the country.

According to the study’s findings, Little Rock, Arkansas, ranked the highest for crime while Concord, New Hampshire, was the lowest. Following Little Rock is Salt Lake City, Utah; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Nashville; and then Charleston, West Virginia.

Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star and The Georgia Star News. Follow Chris on Facebook, Twitter, Parler, and GETTR. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Guns” by Neon Tommy. CC BY-SA 2.0.

 

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11 Thoughts to “Nashville Starts Gun Retrieval Program to Address High Crime Rate”

  1. Tim Price

    The article mentions churches. These will Be churches of color that can be played like a drum by the Nashville Liberal government. Sad how Nashville government uses people of color like dirty diapers!

  2. Tim Price

    Another Democrat trick to get money from Nashville tax payers.

  3. FinishedBeginner

    How is “retrieval” any different than “buyback”? Unless police are accepting only guns stolen from (or sold) by police themselves? This effort is just another “feel good regardless of facts” program typical of the left.

    1. Lawur2

      Nailed it. A worthless Leftist program that accomplishes nothing.

  4. Chris

    Sure, this will help a lot

    This will make the gang violence go away and they’ll all get high-paying jobs and become good parents

    I can see it now

  5. Hank

    How about we “hammer-down” on criminals, especially repeat offenders.
    Our legal system is being “used & abused” and that needs to stop.
    Gun retrieval programs have a history of being non-effective in reducing crime.
    Once again the politicians are focusing on an innate object when they should be focusing on the person using the object.

  6. Tom

    Why would you not just sell them in a Kroeger parking lot?

    Turn them in for possible prosecution and no $$$, LMAO really? Such incredible incentive!

  7. […] Chris Butler |  The Tennessee Star Citing the city’s high crime rate, members of the Metro Nashville Office of Alternative Policing […]

  8. John

    It is well documented that these programs aren’t effective. Just a waste of time and money.

    “In a new study conducted by WalletHub, the city of Nashville ranked fourth overall in having the highest crime rates per 1,000 residents among state capitals in the country.”

    Yet another poorly run Democrat city with a high crime rate. Right?

    William R. Delzell, I’m looking at you.

    1. Steve Allen

      If you do some research instead of listening to the leftist government’s mouthpiece….the main stream media, you will find that the cities with the highest crime rates are controlled by democrats, and coincidentally many of them also have the strictest gun laws. And, currently they are defunding and trying to turn law enforcement agencies into social workers. Then you have the liberal directed creation of law enforcement oversight boards that are made up mostly of liberals with their anti-law enforcement BS. Add to that the current practice of letting felons out without any bail so they of course commit more violent crime. AND THEN……of course, the boogie man is GUNS!!!

      It just astounds me the level of stupidity being expressed by the liberal faction of the democratic party! What is with you people…..what is it that you don’t understand or cannot see?

  9. I am glad to come and take all those bad guns off your hands. Just give me an address.

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