April 13 Gun Buyback removes firearms to save lives

The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office is leading an effort to put unwanted firearms out of commission by offering gift cards in exchange for weapons that will then be destroyed. The event is set for April 13 at the Northampton and Greenfield police departments.

The program offers $75 for handguns, rifles, and shotguns and $150 for assault weapons. Next month’s event will mark the third time the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has launched a gun buyback program. In 2013, 301 unwanted guns were collected, and in 2016, residents turned in 273 guns. All collected guns were destroyed.

“Efforts to curb the epidemic of gun injuries and death must be taken on many fronts. Gun Buyback Programs are a strategy worth trying because the more guns that are in circulation, the more chance there is for someone to be hurt or killed accidentally,” said Northampton District Attorney David Sullivan. “Additionally, when guns are present, there is a much higher chance that a suicide attempt will be completed. We see this event as a small step to take as part of a multi-pronged effort to save lives.”

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, six out of 10 gun deaths in the United States are suicides. According to the gun safety organization Brady United, 117,345 people are shot in the United States annually and 42,654 of those are fatal. Nearly 25,000 die by gun suicide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that firearm injuries are among the 5 leading causes of death for people ages 1-44, and the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-19.

The Gun Buyback event is being organized jointly by the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, the Hampshire and Franklin Sheriff’s Offices, and the Northampton and Greenfield police departments with funds from a Safe Neighborhood Grant awarded to the District Attorney’s Office by Gov. Maura Healey’s office.

Firearms will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northampton Police Station, 29 Center St. and the Greenfield Police Station, 321 High St. The firearms must be unloaded, in working condition, and in a bag. Ammunition will also be accepted for destruction. Antique guns will be delivered to the Springfield Armory.

After the collection, weapons will be destroyed. The destruction will be video-recorded.