Operation Gun Control has kicked off within the community thanks to a recent partnership with the Yazoo City Police Department and the Yazoo County Sheriff’s Department.
From now until March 1, both departments have launched the campaign to recover stolen and unregistered weapons off the streets.
Police Chief Terry Gann said the campaign will include saturation patrol within the city limits. Sheriff Jeremy McCoy said except for the Shady Lane area, which is considered county territory, there are not a lot of gun control problems within the more rural county areas. But deputies will be joining officers in hitting the city limits to tackle the growing problem of illegal gun possession.
“We will start with saturation patrol, getting out looking for violations with speeding, no tags,” Gann said. “We are hoping once the word gets out, the public will also assist us with providing tips.”
Gann said his department has seen an increase in illegal gun possession among juveniles.
“We have been seeing more juveniles walking around with guns,” Gann said. “That is our biggest problem. A lot of times, it is adults getting these weapons in the hands of juveniles to do their dirty work. But it is not always adults supplying them. We have a lot of juveniles breaking into vehicles, stealing weapons as well.”
McCoy said the campaign’s goal will be a daily initiative.
“We will be working day and night to legally confiscate at least one illegally possessed firearm daily,” McCoy said. “We are excited and looking forward to making our streets safer and would love the public’s help.”
Both Gann and McCoy said if anyone would like to turn a weapon in, they may do at the police department or the sheriff’s department.
