New York Gun Buyback Program Takes in Over 3,000 Firearms in Exchange for Gift Cards

Thousands of firearms were turned in across New York
A gun buyback event was hosted by Attorney General Letitia James and law enforcement agencies
Participants were given $500 for the first handgun and $150 for each additional one.

Thousands of firearms, including assault-style rifles and "ghost guns," were surrendered daily across New York over the weekend in return for gift cards.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James, whose office sponsored and managed the program, described it as a "landmark event."

New York Gun Buyback Program

James said more than 3,000 weapons were surrendered at nine buyback locations around the state, including two in New York City. Community citizens handed up seven hundred fifty-one weapons in Syracuse, New York, where police crime figures show a 133% increase in killings in the first four months of this year compared to last year's time frame.

Compared to the weekend's gun buyback program, Syracuse police officers have seized and removed 76 weapons from the community this year, up from 55 during the same period last year, according to Walsh. He claims that 90% of the firearms collected by police are from out of state, ABC News reported.

Authorities say 90 weapons were surrendered in the first three hours of the buyback program at Brooklyn's All Saints Catholic Church.

Participants were offered $500 gift cards for turning in assault-type weapons and untraceable "ghost guns" in return for firearms with no questions asked. People who surrendered handguns received a $500 gift card for the first weapon surrendered and a $150 gift card for each additional handgun surrendered.

The repurchase scheme set up businesses at nine different places around New York, including Family Life School in the Bronx and All Saints Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez tweeted that 90 weapons were seized at the chapel alone.

The campaign comes just days after Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh condemned the city's gun culture, claiming that firearms fuel a wave of violent crime, as per NY Post.

Where to Surrender 'Ghost Guns'?

Individuals who turned in assault-style rifles and "ghost guns," which are guns built from unassembled firearm parts, were given $500 gift cards. Participants who surrendered handguns received $500 for the first weapon surrendered and another $150 for each additional handgun surrendered.

Nine buyback locations were established around the state, including two in New York City. Officials reported receiving 90 weapons in only three hours at one of the buyback locations in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn district attorney, Eric Gonzalez, was "particularly thrilled" with the number of smaller guns surrendered.

According to Walsh, 90% of the weapons collected were out of state. The police department in New York City has developed a Cash for Guns initiative, in which the NYPD will provide $200 to anyone who surrenders a gun.

Per The Guardian, individuals who choose to surrender their firearms are not required to identify themselves and will not be questioned by officials. According to the Gun Violence Archive, as of 30 April, 13,839 people had died due to gun violence in the United States this year. Suicide claimed 7,920 lives, while homicide, murder, or unintentional gunshots claimed 5,919 lives.