Council Supports Deadly Weapons Collection Program in Boston

The Council is supporting efforts to provide residents with a way to safely dispose of deadly weapons. The Council is urging the City of Boston and Boston Police Department to implement a deadly weapons collection program in response to recent serious violence, shootings, and stabbings in Boston.

The resolution notes a surge of serious violence in Boston this summer, including a fatality at South Station during rush hour on August 12, two people stabbed at North Station on August 13, and a fatal stabbing in Dorchester on August 17. It also points to municipalities that have implemented knife and firearm collection programs at local police stations in response to public safety challenges.

The resolution highlights collection programs in Cleveland and Lincolnshire, England, where residents have been able to anonymously and safely dispose of knives, firearms, and other bladed weapons through dedicated surrender bins. Cleveland Police reported that hundreds of knives and firearms had been voluntarily surrendered through its programs, while the Lincolnshire Police Department reported 315 weapons handed in, including knives, machetes, knuckledusters, an imitation firearm, a crossbow, an air rifle, and two shotguns.

The resolution also cites analyses and studies showing declines in knife- and firearm-related crime and emergency department visits following implementation of similar programs