The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office will partner with the Gilroy and Morgan Hill police departments to sponsor a $50,000 gun buyback on Dec. 14.
The gun buyback event—South County’s first such program in 25 years—is aimed at removing unwanted weapons from homes and away from criminals, mentally unstable people and children, according to a press release from the DA’s Office.
From 9am to 2pm on Dec. 14, any firearms owner can anonymously turn in unwanted guns at the Gilroy Corporation Yard, 613 Old Gilroy St., and receive cash, reads the DA’s release. No questions will be asked about whose gun it is or where it came from.
The buyback comes less than three months after the July 28 mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival left three victims dead and 17 wounded; and close to four months after a shooting the June 25 shooting at Ford Store Morgan Hill that left two victims dead.
“Our communities are still grieving, but we are not standing still,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “We’re hoping we can turn a lot of dangerous and unwanted weapons gathering dust in safes, closets and garages into a happier, safer holiday season in Santa Clara County.”
Police and DA’s staff at the mid-December buyback in Gilroy will offer $100 for handguns, rifles and shotguns; and $200 for assault weapons. Firearms must be functional, and there is a limit of five firearms per person.
Guns collected will be checked for lost or stolen status, and if applicable, will be returned to their legal owners, authorities said. All other firearms will be destroyed.
Gun owners are asked to transport unloaded weapons in the trunk of your car, reads the DA’s news release. No ammunition will be accepted. Guns will be bought back on a first come, first served basis, as funds are limited.
Let’s hope criminals, the mentally unstable, and children turn in their firearms.
/Lonewolf
I was recently diagnosed with a mental illness. I will be turning my gun in.
> South Bay Law Enforcement to Host Gun Buyback in Gilroy
Owning a gun is an unalienable right of an American citizen under the United States Constitution.
If owning a gun is a right, then buying a gun is a right.
The market for guns in America is not a monopoly. Americans may freely buy guns from many sellers or sell them to many buyers.
What, then, is the purpose of a local government entity engaging in commerce in guns?
Allowing a government entity to participate in a competitive market place with many private buyers and sellers is completely unnecessary, and has no good purpose other than disrupting the marketplace for guns and alienating the rights of American citizens.
Hear hear!
Turning in your weapon to reduce gun violence makes as much sense as getting a vasectomy because your neighbors have too many children.