PITTSBURGH — City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officials joined Boilermakers Local 154 in announcing a program intended to help get guns off the streets, while creating job opportunities.
The Boilermakers' Guns for Opportunity program will allow people to surrender guns in return for the opportunity to receive training in the union's MOST Common arc-welding program.
"We are going to give these young guys a chance to become part of the society and put down their guns and become part of the middle class," said Raymond Ventrone, business manager of Boilermakers Local 154.
Participants will have six months to complete the training program, and will also be offered treatment for drug or alcohol addictions through the union's MOST Substance Abuse Program.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said, "We hear about guns being traded for cash, guns being traded for gift cards. This is the first time I have ever heard of a community trading guns for an opportunity of life."
People will be able to surrender their guns at collection events. They will then be given a token that they can bring to the Boilermakers' offices to receive the application and begin the process of entering the training program.
"We think this can work, and we think we can curb the violence in this city and in this county," said Ventrone.
The first collection event will be held Feb. 24 at the Free Store in Braddock from 4 to 6 p.m.
Guns for Opportunity: Boilermakers union offering welding training in exchange for guns
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