HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A gun buyback was held in Hartford on Saturday in an effort to make the city streets safer. People brought their unwanted guns to the Community Renewal Team and dropped them off, no questions asked.
“Here in our city – particularly our urban areas – we have an illness, and that illness is gun violence,” said Steven Austin, Sergeant of Special Operations for the Hartford Police Department. “We don’t have all the answers but this is one of the treatments that we’re trying to help.”
People got Stop & Shop gift cards in return for guns that still fired – $200 for an assault rifle, $100 for a revolver or handgun and $25 for a shotgun or rifle. They could also turn in broken guns and ammunition, though they were not eligible for a gift card.
This is the 7th year the gun buyback has been held; it has brought in more than 1,000 firearms so far. Organizers were hoping at least 150 guns would be dropped off today.
“We see young people, old people, people every age,” said David Shapiro, Vice Chair of Surgery at St. Francis Hospital. “Everyone is subject to the violence and the injury potential of a gun.”
Thanks to all the Gun Buy Back volunteers! 100+ guns taken in. That's me in the glasses taking the pic! pic.twitter.com/jDu3l1wf2b
— D/C Foley (@LtFoley) December 19, 2015
The guns that were turned in will all be destroyed, unless forensic testing proves they’ve been used to commit a crime.
