Update: A total of 28 guns were collected at the Save Our Youth Gun Buyback Saturday at the Higby Street Church of Christ in Jackson.

Thomas Burke, founder of Save Our Youth, a youth mentoring program,

saw an opportunity to make a difference.

"We can help fill a gap," Burke said.

Burke says shootings in Jackson have been on the rise.

"Jackson is a small town ... gun violence has really become rampant," he said.

He tells me he wanted to bring awareness to the rise in gun violence and educate the youth and community.

"We hear about the violence in the streets, but we don't hear about what goes on behind closed doors," Burke says. " There are accidental shootings and suicides by using a gun which is a big issue."

Burke teamed up with the Jackson Police to bring a second gun buyback program to the city for gun owners or for those who are trying to get rid of a gun.

Thomas Burke says the gun buyback will take place at the Higby Church of Christ, located at 706 S. Higby Street in Jackson.

"Jackson Police will handle the weapons, and you will get a 50 dollar gift card from me," Burke said.

Lieutenant Chris Simpson of the Jackson Police says even though the buyback program doesn't stop violence,it's a step in the right direction.

"I think some of the studies show it's not putting a huge dent on the illegal guns on the street, but it does show that there are partnerships in Jackson that do care about the gun violence," Lt. Simpson says.

And for Burke, he just wants to promote change in the city.

"Overall, we are just trying to make the community a better place," Burke says.

For more information, please call (517) 240-6134