HEMPSTEAD, Long Island (WABC) — Officials in the Village of Hempstead are offering to replace toy guns children receive this Christmas with other toys.
“Saying no to guns is important – even toy guns,” said Hempstead Village Mayor Don Ryan.
Kids are invited to turn in their water pistols, replica firearms and other imitation weapons for sporting goods, educational items and other toys.
“The purpose is to offer safe alternative to toy guns. We don’t want the kids playing with guns. Guns are dangerous,” said Hempstead Village Trustee LaMont Johnson.
Sean Acosta with the New York Toy Gun Exchange Program and a former NYPD officer bought the toys for the exchange.
“I want to make sure when you grow up nothing happens to you,” Acosta told a group of Hempstead schoolchildren at the announcement of the exchange Thursday.
The village invited the approximately 50 children to Thursday’s announcement at Brierly Park.
Some of the children were given toy guns so they could trade them in for the other toys being given out.
Lieutenant Derek Warner with the Hempstead Village Police Department said parents could be putting their children’s lives at risk by giving them toy guns for Christmas. He said police can mistake toy guns for real guns, especially at night or in poorly lit areas.
“Toy guns can be a dangerous item to give your children,” he said.
If you would like to exchange a toy gun and you live in the Village of Hempstead, call LaMont Johnson at 516-647-7862. You can also bring a toy gun for an exchange to a Christmas dinner and gift event being held for the community on Dec. 22 from 4 p.m.to 8 p.m at Brierly Park on Dartmouth Street.
From someone who grew up five miles from Hempstead–shame on you, Hempstead!
December 13, 2018
Good going, I had to check. Hempstead and other Towns on long Island have gang(s) problems.
Erect signs at the town line, Defenseless Town Mentality
Check out the statements in this one LOL:
https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/li-kids-can-trade-in-water-pistols-nerf-and-toy-gun-for-other-toys-1.24460186
Mayor Don Ryan commented off record stating that…
Protecting our community is our priority for our future.
That’s why with every toy gun turned in…
We will exchange it with a greater or equal value item.
Such a Nunchukas…Knives, Pepper spray , samurai swords and aluminum bats.
Because the safety our community and our children come first.
eric holder would be proud. That faggot brainwasher should pat himself on the back for getting this far. I’d like to rip his arm off and do it for him, but only after inserting it forcefully into his rectum.
It’s been 25 years since he referenced such a thing but boy oh boy, I’d like to serve him crow.
Pathetic.
You know what’s even more pathetic is going to Walmart and looking in the gun accessories aisle and turning to find yourself being recorded on camera and making you appear like a criminal just by being in that aisle. If they’re afraid of people purchasing stuff, then why the hell do they sell them? Because they know they’d get a major backlash if they did. So now they make people feel guilty and spies upon and letting them know THEY are watching you. F!@k them and their big brother surveillance!
The irony of it all is that I always hear about people walking outta there all the time with stuff without paying for it without anyone noticing because no one is ever around to stop anyone. It’s pathetic.