14 DAY TRIAL // Have gun in NYC, will see Beyonce live on her Mrs. Carter Tour. Michael “Blue” Williams, music mogul and manager, has kick-started a private gun buyback program that will allow people in New York City to hand in their guns in exchange for tickets for the star’s show.
Beyonce will perform in New York in August but, until then, Williams is waiting for a response from authorities, together with, hopefully, the greenlight for the initiative, the New York Daily News reports.
“The Beyonce show is coming to Brooklyn; the Jay-Z show is coming to Yankee Stadium. Our goal is to reach out to individuals who are in my industry, in my world and who I have an association with and get their support,” Williams says in a statement.
“I think we should all work together to help get guns off the streets,” he adds.
Because of the kind of pull he has with hip-hop royalty, Williams doesn’t doubt for a second that Beyonce’s people will agree to be involved in the campaign, especially as it implies no effort on their part once they agree to have their name attached to it.
Moreover, the NY Daily News says, Williams is also thinking that, if he gets approval from the police, he could do the same with tickets for Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake’s joint shows, which will take place in July this year.
Williams has also presented his offer to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who will respond to it after due consideration.
“This program aims to provide young people with an opportunity to receive guidance and inspiration from committed mentors, an important option that will enable them to experience possibilities other than a life surrounded by gun violence and unnecessary shootings and killing,” Williams wrote in a letter to the Commissioner.
He hopes that he will get city approval and the program, which he will name “Guns for Greatness,” will officially launch on March 23.