NEW HAVEN, Conn (WTNH) — New Haven police are getting ready for Saturday’s gun buyback program, which they’re calling simply, “No Questions Asked”. The goal is to get guns off the streets, out of homes and away from kids.
You can get $50 to $100 for certain handguns, and up to $200 for assault weapons. Police typically do get a couple of those when they have buybacks. Guns do not need to be operable. Police say no one will be charged for illegal possession.
James Dodington, an attending physician at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, sees kids come to the hospital with gun related injuries.
“What we’re particularly worried about is young children having access to unlocked or unsecured firearms,” said Dodington.
Police do not expect criminals to turn their guns in, but they hope it will bring awareness to the possibility of tragedy.
“If the gun is destroyed it cannot fall into the wrong hands of someone who is going to use it to cause harm,” said Officer David Hartman of the New Haven Police Department.
Police typically hold several gun buybacks each year, taking about 100 weapons back each time. They say people are especially interested in buybacks around the holidays because of the extra cash they’ll get. It is all about keeping the public safe, however. Police want everyone attending the buyback to keep that in mind.
“Bring them unloaded. Put them in your trunk when driving,” said Hartman. “Keep them away from you in the car.”
Police will also be giving gun safety information as well as free gun locks at the buyback.
The program runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday at the New Haven Police Academy, located at 710 Sherman Parkway.
