The Boilermakers Local 154 made an offer Tuesday in Braddock that about 30 people could not refuse. In exchange for turning in their guns, no questions asked, people were given tokens to begin a six-month training program in welding.
For the price of giving up a firearm, participants in Guns for Opportunity will get training in a trade that can lead to almost immediate employment once the person is fully certified. Since the training typically costs thousands of dollars and can mean a good job, the deal can have a much bigger payoff than gun givebacks that offer gift cards.
The Boilermakers Local 154 also sweetened the deal by waiving high school diploma or GED requirements for admission, eliminating a barrier for many young, unemployed and underemployed people.
While undergoing training in welding and related disciplines, participants in Guns for Opportunity will also receive drug and alcohol addiction counseling, if needed. Usually, specialized training programs of this scope and quality make being drug-free a condition of participation. The Boilermakers union helps trainees clean themselves up before they’re hired as welders or representatives of the trade.
In a few weeks, the union will conduct a similar gun collection, most likely in Homewood. The Allegheny County sheriff’s office and the city police dispose of the guns turned in.
The Boilermakers Local 154 should be commended for its investment in and commitment to some of the area’s risky employment prospects. For the small price of a gun given up, dozens of local residents will get a chance at learning skills that can lead to a family-sustaining job. That’s a win-win for Pittsburgh.
First Published: February 28, 2015, 5:00 a.m.
