Grandfather hopes surrender of gun will make a statement

A shotgun that played a part in a family’s heartbreak is now in the hands of Lynchburg police, its owner hoping it will serve as a statement toward a continuing anti-violence campaign in the city.

At a news conference Tuesday evening, Charles Lewis, of Madison Heights, relinquished to Lynchburg Police Chief Parks Snead the firearm that Lewis said his grandson, Quentin Lewis, used to kill himself in 2007.
Lewis said the message he was trying to send was more important than giving up the gun.

“I hope that, you know, other people will see that and continue to do things like (surrender their guns),“ he said.

The surrender was the 11th firearm voluntarily given over to city police since ministry group Churches United for Service began their recent anti-violence efforts in June of 2008.

The Rev. James Coleman, who has been instrumental with the group, pointed out that this year, there have been no homicides in Lynchburg.

The city saw four homicides last year.

“We acknowledge through Churches United for Service, that ministers can make a tremendous difference,“ Coleman said. “We do not take credit for that, but we are a contributing factor.“

Snead lent his perspective as police chief, praising the group for their efforts, not only for their gun surrender events, but also for their continuing dedication to community efforts.

“I commend Churches United for Service. I commend all the partners in this organization in trying to make our community a safer place to be,“ he said.

But Snead stopped short of picking one factor or another to explain why the city has seen fewer homicides this year.

“I don’t point to anything,“ he said. “I point to everything. I point to people being involved, to people becoming interested in this, to families like the Lewises, who are willing to send a positive lesson out of a family tragedy.“

Baltimore minister Bishop Walter Thomas attended the news conference, and offered his own perspective as a community activist.

“To see what’s happening here, and to see the collective effort of pastors and preachers coming together to make sure that guns are taken off the street that have no business being on the street is almost remarkable,“ he said. “To see all of them working together just is a testament to what can happen,“ he said.

Coleman said even after the group’s gun surrender events end in December, he hopes the impact will last much longer. The group still plans to have an active part in community efforts.

“We believe that when a few ordinary people have conviction to speak and then to act upon that which they speak, then you can literally make a difference in your community,“ Coleman said.

Thompson is a staff writer for The News & Advance in Lynchburg.