Phila. Police trade "shoes for guns'

A new Philadelphia Police program aimed at getting guns off the street is using shoes as a deterrent against crime. For a limited time, gunowners can turn in their weapons at any Philadelphia Police precinct in return for a $75 Foot Locker gift certificate -- no questions asked. The $100,000 program, sponsored by Foot Locker, is being administered by the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network in cooperation with the Philadelphia Daily News and the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments. The "Shoes for Guns" program is expected to continue through Saturday, or until all 1,000 gift certificates are distributed. The program was launched last Wednesday. Foot Locker's Senior Manager of Community Relations Stephanie Falk said yesterday many people are doubtful the program can solve the problem of guns on the street. "A lot of people are cynical and we're being very cautious about this [program]," Falk said. She added, though, that while this program could never solve the problem, it is "the first step" towards doing so. The program has already been administered in Chicago and New York, and is planned for Atlanta and Miami. "In three days over twelve hundred guns came into police stations in Chicago," said Vice President of Foot Locker Jerry Canning. But, Philadelphia Police stations have not come close to matching the number of guns turned in by the other two cities in the same amount of time. As of Monday night, 183 guns had been turned in, including 35 semi-automatic handguns, Falk said. "[The number of guns] is not bad, but it's not great either," said Daily News Deputy Associate Editor Joe Blake. Blake attributed the low turnout to record cold temperatures last week. The Philadelphia Police Department does not regularly institute programs like this, although it has held three gun swap programs in the last several years. "Shoes for Guns is just not the way we are used to doing it," said Philadelphia Police Spokesperson Sergeant Terry Young. "However, if we get one [gun], we feel ahead of the game."

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