An Open Letter: It's Time for a Permanent Gun Buyback Program

Dear Elected Officials and Community Leaders:

This is a no-brainer.

Ezell Harris

Just days ago, during the Independence Day weekend, Rochester witnessed yet another shocking act of gun violence in the East End. In two connected shootings near 275 East Avenue and East Broad Street, seven people were shot. The victims ranged in age from 12, 15, 15, 17, 17, 18, and 40 years old. A 16-year-old was also stabbed. Police reported that more than 50 rounds were fired. It’s a miracle that no was killed. These are not just statistics—they are children, families, and lives forever changed.

While Rochester has made meaningful progress in reducing gun violence from the historic highs experienced during the pandemic, every shooting reminds us that there is still much work to do. One practical step should be obvious.

Rochester and Monroe County should establish a Permanent Gun Buyback Program that operates year-round instead of relying on occasional one-day events.

The concept has already proven successful. Rochester has periodically partnered with the New York State Attorney General's Office, the Rochester Police Department, and community organizations to conduct gun buyback events. In October 2024, the City and the Attorney General's Office held a one-day gun buyback in which residents received gift cards in exchange for voluntarily surrendering firearms. According to the Rochester Police Department's 2024 Annual Report, it was the City's first gun buyback program in five years, and 514 firearms were collected.

That raises an important question:

If one one-day event resulted in 514 firearms being removed from circulation, why wouldn't Rochester and Monroe County establish a permanent program that gives residents the opportunity to safely surrender unwanted firearms throughout the year?

No one believes a gun buyback program alone will end violent crime. But every unwanted firearm voluntarily surrendered is one less firearm that can be stolen, trafficked, mishandled by a child, used in a domestic dispute, or fired into a crowd. It is a practical investment in prevention.

As a community activist and disabled veteran, I am willing to put my money where my mouth is. If we ask others to become part of the solution, we should be willing to lead by example. Therefore, I am pledging $1,000 to help launch this initiative. I challenge Rochester and Monroe County elected officials, local businesses, charitable foundations, hospitals, faith communities, civic organizations, and private citizens to match or exceed my contribution. Together, we can establish a public-private partnership that removes unwanted firearms from our community without placing the entire burden on taxpayers.

The question is simple:

If we all agree there are too many guns on Rochester's streets, why wouldn't we create a permanent way to reduce that number?

Leadership is measured not only by how we respond after another shooting, but by the actions we take beforehand to prevent the next one.

This proposal is not about politics. It is not about ideology. It is about protecting our children, strengthening our neighborhoods, and saving lives.

I respectfully urge Rochester and Monroe County leaders to work together to establish the ROC – Reclaim Our Community Permanent Gun Buyback Program.

Every firearm removed from circulation represents one less opportunity for tragedy. Every gun surrendered is one less chance that it will be stolen, trafficked, or used to take an innocent life.

Let's reclaim our community—not after the next tragedy, but before it.

Respectfully,

Ezell Harris

Community Activist and Disabled Veteran

Rochester, New York