News

October 28, 2009

Buy-back program helps cops take aim at crime

By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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HAZLETON – Gun owners filed into City Hall on Tuesday night to unload their weapons into the hands of Luzerne County detectives and claim some gift certificates for their efforts.

In a program sponsored by the District Attorney’s Office, anyone who turned in a working handgun was issued three $25 gift certificates to the Laurel Mall. Anyone who turned in a working rifle or shotgun was issued two $25 gift certificates.

Deputy District Attorney Dave Pedri said it’s a “fantastic program” thanks to a $10,000 state grant secured by state Rep. Todd Eachus, D-Butler Township.

“What we see in our job every single day is the availability of handguns leading to more and more violent crimes. This program takes the guns off the street and hopefully out of the hands of a criminal who would use it for the wrong purposes,” Pedri said.

The program was scheduled to run from 6 to 9 p.m. By 6:30, Detectives Dan Beky and Chris Lynch had collected 24 handguns and eight shotguns or rifles.

“This is a significant amount. We’re happy with what were brought in,” Beky said.

Beky said the buy-back was in Eachus’ district because he secured the grant. Beky hopes some legislators in northern Luzerne County will be able to secure funding for programs there next year.

Joseph Brosk, 77, of Conyngham, brought in an old shotgun.

“It’s probably 50 years old, but it works beautifully. I’ve shot many clay pigeons with it but never a rabbit or a squirrel. I don’t kill living things,” he said.

Brosk turned it in because he doesn’t use it anymore.

“Prior to moving to Conyngham, we lived over in Columbia County on 15 acres. I had a shooting range right on my property. Now we live in a community where you can’t shoot the gun. For all the crooks out there, I still have a .38 Special and a nine-shot revolver in my house,” Brosk said.

Theresa Dvorscak and her husband, Richard, of Hazleton, brought in Richard’s reproduction of a black-powder muzzleloader flintlock pistol – the kind one might see in a pirate movie.

“My husband is a great gun collector. I said, ‘Now, when in God’s name are we going to use this gun?’ We have more than we need at the house. If someone breaks in, I don’t want them getting a hold of it,” she said.

Dvorcak, said the buy-back program is “fabulous because my granddaughter is getting married next Saturday and I buy stuff in Boscov’s (at the Laurel Mall).”

Kevin Skinner, 56, of Hazleton, brought in a .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun because “it’s a real piece of junk. It jams up every couple times it’s fired.”

“I had that gun for 10 years for self-protection. But I’ve got a bigger one here,” he said, tapping a bulge under his jeans on his calf. “It’s a .38 Special, and I’m licensed to carry.”

Skinner plans to use the gift certificates as birthday presents for his daughters.

Richard Culp, 51, of Sugarloaf Township, brought a .22-caliber revolver and a 30/30 Marlin rifle.

“I haven’t fired them for probably nine, 10 years, and I live in an area where, with all the crime going on, I don’t want anybody getting a hold of them, taking them from me and using them for something they shouldn’t be used for,” Culp said.

Also, Culp said, it made him nervous having the guns in the house with his 9-year-old son, even though he kept the guns locked up.

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