Upcoming Gun Buybacks to be held in Camden, Mercer and
Essex Counties; Joint State and Federal Program Will Seek to
Impose the Most Severe Penalties Against Gun Offenders
Flanked by local government leaders, law enforcement, clergy and community leaders, New Jersey’s two top law enforcement officials jointly announced today that they are sponsoring a two-day gun buyback next month to be held simultaneously in three counties – Camden, Mercer and Essex.
In addition to the buyback initiative to remove deadly weapons from New Jersey communities, the Attorney General and the Acting U.S. Attorney announced an enhanced commitment to coordinate state and federal efforts to prosecute gun crimes aggressively, with a particular focus on the “Triggerlock” program, under which high-priority gun offenders arrested by municipal police or state authorities are referred for prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office under federal law, which carries lengthier prison terms, including potential penalties of 15 years without parole to life for the most serious gun offenses.
Porrino explained that the state-led “Guns for Cash” event will be held on Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29 at a single church in each of three cities: the Antioch Baptist Church on Ferry Avenue in Camden, the Friendship Baptist Church on Perry Street in Trenton, and the Greater Abyssinian Baptist Church on Lyons Avenue in Newark.
Between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on those dates, residents can turn in up to three firearms of any type “no questions asked” and receive as much as $200 per weapon. Police officers will be stationed at the three churches to collect and secure the guns. The Attorney General’s Office is paying for the gun buyback with forfeiture funds obtained by the Division of Criminal Justice, the State Police, and the three participating County Prosecutors’ Offices.
In addition to publicizing the late-July gun buyback campaign through today’s press conference, Porrino explained, the tri-county gun buyback will be promoted through radio, newspaper, bus transit, social media and other advertising.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick and Attorney General Porrino emphasized that while gun buybacks present an important opportunity to remove dangerous guns from circulation, law enforcement at all levels will continue to work diligently and collaboratively to arrest violent offenders and criminals who commit crimes with guns. New Jersey has some of the nation’s toughest gun laws, and the crime of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm is a second-degree offense under state law punishable by between five and 10 years in prison.
Moreover, through continued partnership among federal, state, and local counterparts, including participation in the Triggerlock program, the Acting U.S. Attorney and the Attorney General pledged to make use as appropriate of even stricter penalties available for many gun crimes under federal law.
Under standardized pricing set for the tri-county gun buyback, residents will be paid $100 for turning in a rifle or shotgun, $120 for a handgun or revolver, and $200 for an assault weapon. Law enforcement firearms experts will be on hand at each location to assist with the valuation and securing of turned-in weapons.
Residents with questions about the buyback effort can call the Attorney General’s Citizen Services unit at (609) 984-5828 or visit www.nj.gov/guns.
Photo: File photo