The New York City Police Department's "Cash for Guns" program, which was initiated by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, has removed nearly 1,600 guns from the streets and helped to make New York the safest it's been in decades.

"This program has been incredibly successful. By giving out $100 cash rewards for the surrender of every gun, we are ridding our neighborhoods of violent weapons and pushing crime down to record levels in all five boroughs," said Commissioner Kelly. "When you surrender a gun anonymously at one of our precincts, you not only receive $100 cash no questions asked, you also take a step in making our city that much safer."

Since its inception less than six months ago, the 2002 Citywide Cash for Guns Program has paid out more than $158,000 in rewards to those who have surrendered their revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, sawed-off shotguns and assault weapons.

To date, 898 revolvers, 542 semi-automatic pistols, 96 sawed-off shotguns, 49 assault weapons, and 179 other guns have been surrendered for cash. The program is ongoing, and all New Yorkers who own guns are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to trade in a weapon for a no-questions-asked, anonymous cash reward.