Several organizations have come together to voice their concerns about gun violence in Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Organizations came together to voice concerns about gun violence in Buffalo, one day after two teenagers were charged with murder in the shooting death of three-year-old Ramone Carter.

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Buffalo FATHERS President Lenny Lane organized a toy gun exchange on Jefferson Avenue to get toy guns out of the hands of children.

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“We don’t want our kids to feel comfortable even with a gun, so we don’t take away play time from them,” he said. “We give them something educational, like a book or football or basketball, something we know they can build their career on.”

On Main Street in Buffalo, owners of Luxor Steak & Lobster and other organizations came together in hopes of making their voices heard about the domino effect of gun violence.

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“We need to start holding people accountable for these acts of violence,” says Tara Roods, owner of Luxor. “Not to the companies, not to the victims, but to the real perpetrators. »

The city of Buffalo shut down Luxor’s operations after someone was shot outside the restaurant after hours in May.

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This person later died at ECMC.

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“We don’t make money to pay our bills. These kinds of things are expensive and we are nothing more than customer service,” says Taru Woods, co-owner of Luxor. “We are business owners and are responsible for actions we can never control.”

These community members now hope that more peaceful days lie ahead for the Queen City.

“Our city needs prayer. We are just starting summer. We have a violent city. I can’t believe these criminal acts are so popular, because it seems like everyone should know each other,” says Taru. “We just don’t know what to do about the acts of violence in the city of Buffalo, but we will pray.”