County buys back 198 firearms

During Orange County’s “Give it up for life,” no-questions-asked gun buyback program, people turned in 198 fire arms to police departments between June 1 and July 15, Orange County Executive Edward Diana, pictured here on the left, announced during a press conference this week. In exchange, $12,550 in gift certificates were given out. “One less illegal gun on the street is one less potential for death,” Diana said in his remarks. The county has allotted a total of $150,000 for the program with three cities - Port Jervis, Middletown and Newburgh - receiving $50,000 ($10,000 for the gun buyback and $40,000 for security cameras). With Diana (left to right) are County Legislator Greg Townsend, Deputy Sheriff Greg Gaetano and Al Carpenter, district manager of ShopRite. (Provided photo)