| Without a doubt the second amendment is the most | | | | punishments that keep gun owners from turning over |
| controversial of all of the Constitutional amendments | | | | guns that might not be legal. |
| and the argument over gun control is no less heated | | | | To prevent misunderstanding: The city of Syracuse is |
| in Syracuse than it is anywhere else in the state. The | | | | not asking for all guns—just the guns that |
| leading issue in Syracuse right now is not so much a | | | | someone thinks might not be legal. The residents of |
| person's right to own a gun, but what to do with all | | | | Syracuse believe heartily in the second amendment |
| of the handguns that might not be registered or | | | | and their right to bear arms and there are no laws or |
| have the proper paperwork. | | | | programs in effect that will restrict those rights, |
| The current plan is to offer a Gun Amnesty Program | | | | provided that the arms are obtained through legal |
| for Syracuse residents. This is not the first time that | | | | means. |
| the city of Syracuse is offering a Gun Amnesty | | | | This year the Syracuse police department is working |
| Program. The last time the program was offered it | | | | together with local social groups and churches to |
| helped city officials get hundreds of illegal guns off | | | | make sure that information about the two gun |
| the streets. | | | | amnesty days gets spread as far as it can possibly |
| This year there will be two days during which | | | | be spread. The police department is working together |
| Syracuse residents can turn in handguns that might | | | | with churches and social services to make sure that |
| have been obtained illegally or check into their gun's | | | | the program gets as much publicity as possible. They |
| registration without fear of retribution: February | | | | are hoping that after the success of the last |
| fourth and February eleventh. On those two days, | | | | program, the added publicity will cause the new |
| the residents of the city of Syracuse can bring in | | | | event to get even more illegal guns off the streets. |
| their guns and be given a two hundred dollar voucher | | | | Would you turn in your gun if you had obtained it |
| once the gun has been proven to be in working | | | | illegally or the gun had features that made it illegal to |
| order. | | | | own? Would you trade the gun in for two hundred? |
| The goal, says the Police Chief, is not to get gang | | | | Would you ignore the program and continue to hope |
| members to rush to turn in their guns in order to be | | | | that you never got found out? This program |
| given two hundred dollars. The goal is to get | | | | challenges people to admit mistakes and, especially |
| someone who knows of a gun that might or might | | | | when it comes to gun ownership, that is something |
| not be illegal to turn in that gun without having to be | | | | that people—not just Syracuse residents, but |
| worried about penalties. Owning an illegal gun comes | | | | people all over the world—have trouble doing. |
| with steep fines and punishment and it is those | | | | Would you be able to admit your mistake? |