Have a gun you no longer want in your home? You can turn it in for a gift card worth up to $200 at the fifth annual gun buyback event on Nov. 7 in Rockville, Maryland.
The Montgomery County event takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at RedGate Park on 14500 Avery Road. Participants do not have to live in Rockville, show identification or answer questions about the firearms they’re turning in, according to officials.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy told WTOP News that the program gives people an opportunity to get unwanted guns out of their homes before they end up in the wrong hands.
“My hope is that we will reduce, in particular, the availability of guns to younger people in our community,” McCarthy said.
The event is a partnership between the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Rockville City Police Department.
McCarthy said hundreds of firearms were collected during previous events, including privately manufactured firearms known as ghost guns, which don’t have serial numbers and can be difficult for law enforcement to trace.
He said ghost guns are a particular concern because of their involvement in incidents with young people, including cases where parents were unaware their children had obtained or assembled firearms inside of their homes.
But, McCarthy said the program goes beyond keeping guns out of the hands of young people. It’s also intended to reduce the risk of accidental shootings and suicides.
“When we talk about harm caused by handguns, it’s not always one person against another,” McCarthy said, pointing to the dangers of self-harm.
Participants can receive a $100 Visa gift card for functioning handguns, rifles, shotguns and privately manufactured firearms. Functioning assault-style weapons qualify for a $200 gift card.
“They fall into the hands of their kids or people that are not intended to have the guns, and you get an opportunity to get some money they can use for groceries or other things you need to buy for your family,” McCarthy said.
Gift cards are limited, and police may restrict how many are issued to each participant. Nonfunctioning firearms can also be turned in, but they won’t qualify for compensation.
Anyone participating must drive to the park with their firearms unloaded and secured in the trunk of the vehicle. Participants must stay inside of their vehicles while officers collect the weapons. Walk-ups are not allowed.
McCarthy told WTOP that firearms collected for destruction will be secured and transported for disposal after the event.
While the buyback won’t end gun violence, McCarthy said it’s one part of the country’s broader efforts to keep people safe.
And for people who simply don’t want a firearm in their home anymore, the event offers the chance to provide residents with “some peace of mind to have those guns out of your home,” according to McCarthy.
WTOP’s Ana Golden contributed to this article.
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