The surrendered rocket launcher and a collection of rifles.
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s OfficeA gun buyback event in Santa Clara County last weekend secured a large haul of weapons far beyond just handguns.
In a statement Thursday, Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee said the event, held at San Jose’s Reid-Hillview Airport, collected 408 weapons, with $40,050 distributed to residents in return. County residents also turned in 20 ghost guns, 133 handguns, 275 rifles and one sawed-off shotgun. Also surrendered were a rocket launcher, an Uzi and a collection of assault-style weapons.
County residents who surrendered their weapons were paid $100 for handguns, rifles and shotguns, and $200 for ghost guns and assault weapons. After collection, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office holds the weapons in safe storage until they are destroyed.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
“Reducing the number of unsecured firearms in our community is paramount to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents,” Santa Clara County Sheriff Robert Jonsen said in a statement prior to the event.
Including the latest haul, Lee said in the Thursday statement that the three gun buybacks held in Santa Clara County since May 2022 have secured more than 1,000 guns. “That’s more than one thousand chances to save a life,” he said. “The County of Santa Clara is committed to preventing gun violence and these buybacks are a key part of that.”
All weapons collected at the buyback are held in safe storage until they are destroyed.
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s OfficeLee and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office organized the buyback along with the San Jose Police Department, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and the offices of San Jose Councilmembers Omar Torres and Domingo Candelas. Lee said in the statement that more buyback events will be held next year.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
San Francisco residents, though, won’t have to wait that long to be paid for their weapons. On Saturday, United Playaz, a violence prevention and youth development organization, is holding a buyback with the San Francisco Police Department.
The event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon at the United Playaz Clubhouse at 1038 Howard St. Cash payments will be $100 for handguns and $200 for assault weapons, no questions asked.