(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Saint Sabina Church has a new initiative with hopes of curbing gun violence in Chicago.
Rev. Michael Pfleger and his congregation are launching a gun buy-back program aimed at people under 25 years old.
The church will offer $100 cash for rifles; $200 for handguns and assault rifles and $20 for high-capacity magazines. The program is anonymous and operates on a no-questions-asked policy.
People can turn in their weapons Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the church in Gresham.
Donor Tom Sondag gave $25,000 to the church for the program. He said he hopes the money runs out quickly.
Sondag said he was motivated to donate the money for the program after police fatally shot teen Adam Toledo in Little Village earlier this year.
Saint Sabina has an intervention program called Strong Futures, led by mentor Elijah Maxie, who will offer to help people who turn their weapons in.
"I want people to live. I'm telling the kids, getting old is the coolest thing in the world," Maxie said.
Reverend Pfleger says the surrendered weapons will be destroyed by the Chicago Police Department.
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