mpeeling@standard-freeholder.com
CORNWALL - The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is offering, for the first time, a no-questions-asked gun amnesty aimed at promoting public safety and discouraging violent crime in Akwesasne.
On Saturday for eight hours, residents of the Mohawk First Nation living on both sides of the border can bring firearms they don't want to the maintenance building behind the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) community building.
The guns will be appraised and taken to be destroyed by the local police in exchange for a gift certificate redeemable at the SRMT-owned IGA grocery store and pharmacy worth the relative value of the gun.
Other firearm amnesties had offered a flat rate of $100, such as in St. Louis, Missouri, but tribal spokesperson David Staddon said in those cases the local government lost out because there would be people bringing in guns worth a fraction of $100.
Staddon said the gun buyback is to "promote public safety," but emphasized that anyone turning over a firearm will not be asked where the gun was obtained or what it was used for.
As an example, Staddon said there are guns out there owned by people who are deceased and their family members don't feel comfortable having the guns at home.
"Some people have these guns kicking around and they're not sure how to get rid of them," Staddon said. "I was raised on a farm and was around guns from the time I was 8, but not everyone had that same experience. It's about both personal and public safety."
The gun buyback program was, in part, the idea of SRMT deputy general counsel Danielle Lazore-Thompson.
"I've seen the strong reaction to the arming of the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) on Cornwall Island, so I thought we should take more steps to deal with violent crime and weapons in our community," Lazore-Thompson said. "I think it's appropriate that tribal council takes the first step and make a statement that we recognize the issues and want to do something about them. It shows that we don't have our heads under a rock."
Lazore-Thompson said she has seen an increase in violent crime over the past 10 years in Akwesasne, although she doesn't think that it's a change any different than most communities.
"It's not just here, but it's the community I'm most concerned about," she said.
Over the weekend, a friend of the lawyer had her house broken into and robbed of many belongings, including a television.
One of the more alarming incidents mentioned by Lazore-Thompson occurred in the spring when her friend's husband came home to find the door ajar.
Inside the house, the man encountered a burglar who shot at him with a firearm.
"It used to be that I never heard about that type of thing going on here," Lazore-Thompson said. "It's hard to talk about. I don't want to paint our community in a bad light, but there are a few people who decided to behave badly when most of us are law-abiding."
Although it wasn't coordinated with the gun amnesty program, Lazore-Thompson says another positive step is a peace march scheduled this week by a centre to help female victims of domestic abuse.
Lazore-Thompson would also like to see a neigbourhood watch program start up in Akwesasne.
Staddon wouldn't disclose how much money has been allocated to fund the gun buyback program, but said the amount available should be sufficient.
"If not, we'll got to the step, even though money is tight," Staddon said. "This initiative is important enough to the tribe that it has allocated enough money."
The gun amnesty open house runs on Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., then 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Staddon said whether or not the program continues after Saturday depends on its success.