Kids from across Long Island were invited to attend a toy gun exchange at Brierley Park on Thursday. They turned in their water pistols, Nerf guns and other firearm-inspired toys in exchange for athletic and educational ones.
The Village of Hempstead wants to make it clear that guns are not toys. A statement made by the Village says since 1994, there have been 63 shootings linked to toy guns in New York State that resulted in at least eight deaths.
Mayor Don Ryan joined with the New York Toy Gun Exchange program and ex-NYPD officer, Sean Acosta, to stop gun violence before it starts by exchanging firearm-inspired toys for what they say are more appropriate ones.
The toys were donated by Acosta.