The Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office collected 12 guns during its second Gun Buy Back Program, bringing the program’s total take to 45 weapons.
The second program was held on Sunday, July 22, at the Consecration Temple Church located at 1312 State Street in Schenectady. The program is being offered monthly at different locations throughout the county. It is sponsored by the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, Schenectady Police Department, Golub/Price Chopper, Stewarts Shops and various organizations throughout the county, including several faith based organizations.
The initiative is aimed to offer families a benefit through safely removing and destroying unwanted or illegal weapons. Gift cards were offered as payment for any gun turned over, with payments starting at $25 for non-working or B.B. and pellet guns. Rifles or shotguns brought a $100 payment, with handguns returning $200 and those turning in assault weapons receiving $250. Anonymous surrenders were awarded $50.
“We are very pleased with the success of our first two Gun Buy Back initiatives,” Sheriff Dominic Dagostino said in a statement. “We are hoping to build upon these successes to ultimately realize our goal of reducing gun violence in our community.”
Dagostino said future event locations would be publicized “in the near future.”
The second buy back collected five handguns, nine rifles or shotguns and three non-working guns. The first buy back collected more guns, with 16 handguns and 12 rifles or shotguns turned over to police. The total amount awarded in Price Chopper gift cards from the two buy backs was $5,175.
