Gun Buyback Pilot Program In San Mateo Co. Up For Supes' Vote

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — San Mateo County supervisors are scheduled to vote on a resolution Tuesday to establish a gun buyback pilot program with $375,000 in funding from Measure K reserves, the sheriff’s department and Citizens for a San Mateo County Gun Buyback.

The program would include five gun buyback events in the county up until 2023, beginning with an event in San Carlos on Dec. 11.

The county is hoping to capitalize on the first such event held since the pandemic “due to multiple assumptions including increased firearm sales during shelter-in-place and the continued economic hardships of many residents who may need the cash,” according to a staff report.

The county projected that 450 firearms would be surrendered at the Dec. 11 event, and 400 firearms in the subsequent four events. The county’s three previous gun buyback events — held in 2018 and 2019 — yielded 1,254 total firearms with $125,700 distributed.

Americans purchased a record number of handguns in 2020, and firearms sales tripled between 2007 and 2016, according to the county.

The county noted that the city of San Carlos has contributed “major support” to the citizens’ gun buyback group, along with San Mateo, Belmont, Woodside and Burlingame. The Congregational Church of San Mateo and Assemblymember Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) were also named as contributors.

The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday and can be viewed here. Click here for the agenda item on gun buybacks.