BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Back to Basics Ministries and Buffalo Fathers are working to combat gun violence on Buffalo's East Side. The organizations held a toy gun exchange Friday evening on Jefferson Avenue.
Community member, Kamil Johnson, said this was a major step for her 7-year-old son Noah.
"They were his favorite. He didn't really want to part in the beginning," Johnson said. "Then he realized the big influence it would have on giving it back."
Johnson's daughter, 10-year-old Nylah, said she's proud of Noah and wants to see more events like this throughout Buffalo.
"I don't want my brother to grow up and start shooting," Jones said. "That's not what I want. I want my brother to grow up and be a good man. A man that's going to care of his kids when he gets kids."
Organizers believe kids like Noah are an important part of the movement.
"Noah was really reluctant about turning in his toy gun. He didn't really want to do it and a lot of our kids don't want to do it because they feel a sense of power holding a gun," said Lenny Lane, president of Buffalo Fathers.
"Guns are not toys," said Pastor James Giles of Back to Basics Ministries. "Once they get acclimated and oriented with this, it's easier for them to transition to the real hardware. The one that has bullets that actually kill. So we're changing that."
