School district, church host gun buyback event in response to gun violence

RANKIN, Pa. — The Woodland Hills School District and Emmanuel Baptist Church hosted a gun buyback event Saturday in response to the gun violence that has hit the Wilkinsburg and Rankin areas.

As soon as the doors opened, guns of all shapes and size were turned in, collected by the Wilkinsburg and Rankin police departments.

There was no limit on the number of firearms an individual could bring in, and guns were exchanged for gift cards. The cards were handed out by State Sen. Jay Costa, who secured $5,000 in financial support from an anonymous corporate donor.

“About four years ago when I relocated here from Philadelphia, I realize there’s a lot of gun violence, and a lot of trauma that the community has to deal with so we figured why not try to remove some guns from the streets,” James Harris, superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District, said.

Rankin Police Chief Ryan Wooten said this buyback event will make a difference.

“We’re more than excited by having these firearms here and not in the street, and the wrong person’s hands,” he said.

The chief said all of the guns turned in will be destroyed.

“We are always looking for ways to help make their community safer. So this was a logical kind of step, trying to keep our community safe, school safe, our children safe,” said Christopher T. Conti, senior pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church.

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