Aim For Peace Takes Target

Menino and friends kicked off Boston's 2006 gun buyback program today with a press conference at 10:30am, firearms could be turned into local police precincts starting at noon. When the new initiative was announced we pondered the merits of not offering cash in return for a firearm while giggling at the irony of offering a Target gift card in exchange for the weapon. Apparently the Mayor's office wasn't done there – they've named the new program "Aim for Peace." The program rolled out with a brochure detailing the turn-in procedure and a new playlist for Menino's iPod. Well, maybe not playlist, but at least one song on repeat – the Start Peace song, performed by the group Four Peace.

The voicemail at 1-888-GUNTIPS has been changed and the no questions asked program began earlier today. Last report had the number of guns exchanged today in the upper thirties. Flashy graphics, hip tunes, and Bostonist's mockery aside the program stands by their mantra "it is our feeling that one less gun on our streets is one less potential death." With the number of shootings on the rise this year, and the number of murders coming off a ten year record high last year, the new program could be a good thing for the City's hopes to reduce crime.