Home Pittsburg Pittsburg Police Hold Gun Buyback Event

Pittsburg Police Hold Gun Buyback Event

by ECT

On Thursday, the Pittsburg Police Department announced the results of its first gun buyback its held in six-years in the city of Pittsburg.

Police reported they collected 4 ghost guns, 1 stolen gun, and 125 additional firearms.

A ghost gun is a firearm that does not have a serial number and is difficult to track when used in criminal activity.

The program is completely voluntary and the department hands out gift cards ranging from $50 to $200 depending on the type of firearm the participants no longer want. All firearms collected by the police department will be destroyed.

Police called this a successful community event and allowed the police department another means to work with the community to remove unwanted firearms and make our city safer.

During a recent 90-day special enforcement to take guns off the street between June 1 through September 1, they took 103 firearms off the street, including 9 assault rifles. Polic said the District Attorney’s Office has filed charges on 90% of cases from the campaign.

In August, the Pittsburg city Cuncil approved the gun buy-back program in a 4-0 vote which authorized a $100k in funds made available for the program.

In the past, Chief Albanese said in 2014 and in 2016 recent gun buyback events resulted in 300 firearms turned in. Most recently, San Mateo County, Marin County and Oakland held buybacks and firearms turned into ranged from 130-500 firearms.

“We looked at this program and its not just about enforcement, its about the three E’s. Education, engagement and enforcement,” said Albanese.

He further highlighted the key objectives of the gun buyback which include:

  1. Provide members of the community a safe and simple process to dispose unwanted firearms
  2. Reduce the availability of guns in Pittsburg and surrounding communities
  3. Raise awareness of the risks of firearms
  4. Reduce crime and gun violence.

Police said they will hold another gun buy-back event in the Spring of 2023.

 

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