ALBANY — Albany County lawmakers will give $10,000 to a local pastor so he can continue to fund his gun buy-back program that has already netted 60 weapons.

The Rev. Charles Muller, of the Victory Christian Church, established a program in May to get guns off the streets of Albany after the shooting death of 10-year old Kathina Thomas.

He offered a gift card to Crossgates Mall to anyone who turned in a gun, with no questions asked. But Muller ran out of money.

“With this new funding, it will make it possible for us to not only expand this program, but will ensure a greater success of what has already been established,” Muller said.

Albany County legislators decided to help fund Muller’s program to help reduce gun violence in the city and county.

“Rather than reinvent the wheel, we will allocate the money toward Rev. Muller’s program,” said Albany County Legislator Chris Higgins.

The Legislature approved a handgun buy-back program in May that was to be handled by the sheriff and District Attorney P. David Soares. Because of the success of Muller’s program the Legislature decided to allocate the money to Muller so he can keep his community-based program going.

Higgins said he and his colleagues in the Legislature recognize that gun violence is a serious problem in the city of Albany and in Albany county. “We have been wracking our brains on how we can be proactive rather than reactive,” he said.

Higgins said if the funding gets even one more gun off the streets and out of the hands of someone who seeks to threaten the safety of the neighborhoods, then it will be a huge success.

Guns can be turned in at the Victory Church at 118 Quail St.