New York City authorities have recovered 352 guns -- including a bright pink rifle, two sawed-off shotguns and an AK-47 assault weapon -- during a Staten Island buyback program.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly says it's the most successful program in the city per-capita.
Commissioner Kelly said, “If not peace on earth, you have helped bring peace on Staten Island – while our Brooklyn and Manhattan initiatives yielded more guns, per capita Staten Island appears to have collected the most – 352 weapons in just six hours. Thank you, and congratulations.”
People who owned illegal guns could turn them in anonymously at two churches in exchange for $200 bank cards.
Church programs in Brooklyn and Manhattan have netted about 1,200 guns total.
In the city's ongoing cash-for-guns initiative, people can drop off weapons at police precincts for $100.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg banned the use of paints on guns in 2006 because it makes it hard for officers to determine whether the guns are toys or real.
