From The Compton, Calif., Press Telegram;
"Compton turns in its guns more than 100
By Samantha Gonzaga, Staff writer
COMPTON — They came from Compton and neighboring cities: women with their ex-boyfriends' weapons, residents who felt their old guns would find a home in the hands of a burglar, and young men planning to start anew.
Sheriff's deputies from the Compton Station collected more than 100 firearms Saturday in "Gifts for Guns" at the Compton Towne Center. The program encouraged gunowners to anonymously drop off their firearms — no questions asked — in exchange for $100 gift certificates at Circuit City, Toys R Us and Ralph's.
"We have a variety of weapons here today that could hurt people, but are now off the streets," said sheriff's Capt. Eric Hamilton. "We are very blessed today."
By noon, the gift certificates had run out, but the stream of people had not.
"I think this particular event has been successful because of the events that have occurred here in Compton," Hamilton said. "And people are responding to that."
The city's homicide rate is the highest in Los Angeles County, which authorities attribute to the increase of gang-related crimes. There have been 66 killings this year, compared with last year's 39.
Harry McCall, 45, dropped off a .22-mm rifle and a .7-mm handgun.
"I'm doing it for my homeboy, (Stanley) Tookie (Williams)," he said. "May he rest in peace."
The Los Angeles resident
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said he knew the 51-year-old co-founder of the Crips street gang when he "was first coming up."
Williams, a San Quentin State Prison deathrow inmate, was convicted for the 1979 murders of 7-11 Whittier store clerk Albert Owens, 26; and Los Angeles motel owners Yen-I Yang, 76, Tsai-Shai Chen Yang, 63, and their daughter Yu-Chin Yang Lin, 43. Williams died of lethal injection early Tuesday.
Hamilton said he hopes the "Gifts for Guns" program would become a mainstay in the city. This year the City Council allocated $9,800 to make Sunday's event possible, while the station raised about $5,000. Hamilton said the program is in need of sponsors."
According to sheriff's Capt. Eric Hamilton. "We are very blessed today".
The apparent highlight of the day was Harry McCall's turning in a ".22 mm" rifle and a ".7 mm" handgun. He did it for :"My homeboy, Tookie".
Convert the gift certs to cash, and off to Cabelas I go!
