Bay Area Cities Host Gun Buyback Events On Anniversary Of Newtown Shooting
SAN JOSE (KCBS) — Cities around the Bay Area are holding gun buyback events on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in which 20 children and six staff members were killed by 20-year-old gunman Adam Lanza.
Acting Captain Brian Ferrante, of the San Jose Police Department, said the city there will host a gun buyback at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church at 2012 East San Antonio Street.
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"We have about $70,000 that we hope to give out for these weapons," he said.
Ferrante said the goal is to reduce gang violence and take more guns off the streets.
"These weapons are available to criminals who are doing burglaries or maybe a family member who has gone down the wrong path may want to use this weapon in their home and in a crime. So what were trying to do is get these weapons out of the households that no longer want them; they can't secure them properly or they feel they are liability," he said.
Police will exchange $100 Target gift cards for handguns, rifles and shotguns and $200 gift cards for assault weapons.
San Francisco and Oakland will also hold gun buyback events on Saturday.
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