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(Cory Shaffer, Northeast Ohio Media Group)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Organizers will hold a Toy Gun Buyback at the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland's Broadway Avenue location at noon on Dec 13.

Youth can exchange toy or replica guns for educational comic books and other prizes, in an effort to raise community awareness after the Nov. 22 shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice.

A Cleveland police officer shot Tamir after he mistook a pellet gun the child was carrying for a real one. The shooting is under investigation.

Community activist Yvonne Pointer

Community activist Yvonne Pointer and Rid-All Green Partnership's Damien Forshe originally conceived the buyback event more than a year ago after a friend, Fred Ward, videotaped an impromptu comic-book-for-toy-gun exchange with a small boy who was walking past a community center.

Toy Gun Buyback

When: Dec. 13 at noonWhere: Boys & Girls Club 6114 Broadway Avenue

Pointer and Forshe say the buyback event is simple a way to start a conversation with youth about the dangers of guns – both real and fake – and put the emphasis on education.

The comic books being passed out were created by Rid-All to teach children about the environment and sustainability.

Brink City "Green In the City" Comic Book image

"We need mothers to show solidarity and bring their children to turn in their toy guns," Pointer said.

Pointer's daughter, Gloria, was murdered 30 years ago. Since then she's spent her life comforting other families impacted by violence. She's also spurred other programs, like midnight basketball.

If others have different ideas how to approach the issue, she said, they should make them happen.

Cleveland police already hold an annual buyback of real firearms in an effort to get weapons off the streets and out of homes where children might find them.

Similar buybacks in the past have allowed kids could exchange the toy weaponry for autographed baseballs or hockey tickets.

People who want to help buy giftcards and other prizes can send tax deductible donations to the following places:

Ridall Foundation

14000 Christine Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44105

or

Gloria Pointer Teen Movement