Gary Martin has lived in Johnstown his whole life. He said he’s fed up with recent gun violence in the area and he wants it to stop. 

That’s why he’s starting a new gun bounty program through the Cambria County Crime Stoppers.

Anyone who gives an anonymous tip about an illegal gun and the person it belongs to, will get up to $1000 if the tip leads to an arrest within 30 days.

Martin announced the new program at a meeting Wednesday night with community members and law enforcement. He said it will help stop gun violence and drug-related crime.

“I think when you look at the overall effects of what drugs have done to our community,  think everybody’s fed up with it about now. And they really want to start to make a change,” said Gary Martin, President and Founder of Cambria County Crime Stoppers.

Martin said community members should even turn in their friends and loved ones because the goal is to get guns off the streets before anyone is hurt.

Martin also started the “Push out the Pusher” anonymous tip line, which has led to 400 arrests since 2014. He hopes this new gun bounty program will be just as successful.

“Somebody knows something out there. Every little bits and pieces might help make our community safer,” Martin said.

Johnstown Mayor Frank Janakovic said this new program has potential to make a big impact.

“Hopefully family members will be positive influences on the others that may be a little leery of turning their guns in. But I think it’s very important we work together to make that happen. There’s too much violence out there and we know we need to get guns off the street or out of the hands of the wrong people,” said Mayor Janakovic.