Camden County To Host Gun Buyback Event Saturday

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — Antioch Baptist Church in Camden will host a gun buyback event on Saturday, Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck announced.

Camden County is one of nine counties participating in what Bruck called the “largest one-day participation gun buyback ever held in New Jersey.” The “Guns for Cash” events will all take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Initiatives like the gun buyback program are an effective means of combatting senseless acts of gun violence,” said Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer, who is sponsoring the event locally. “Too often, we have seen a gun in a home fall into the wrong hands, only to be used later in a violent crime – or even worse – fall into the hands of a child. The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office is proud to work with the Attorney General and our local law enforcement partners to help make our county and our state a safer place to live.”

Antioch Baptist Church is located at 690 Ferry Avenue in Camden. Residents can turn in firearms with “no questions asked,” and will receive as much as $250 per weapon for up to three guns, according to officials.

Police officers will be stationed at each buyback location to collect and secure the guns. The gun buyback initiative is funded with forfeiture dollars obtained by the local police departments and County Prosecutors’ Offices, as well as forfeiture funds from the Division of Criminal Justice.

“The gun buyback events we organized this August proved so popular that we decided to host a second round this fall,” Bruck said. “We are committed to using every tool at our disposal to reduce gun violence, and this expanded program will help us achieve that goal. I’m especially grateful to our County Prosecutors and their community partners for taking the lead on this important project.”

The previous “Guns for Cash” events held in Atlantic City, East Orange, Newark, and two locations in Paterson yielded 941 firearms. Residents turned in 487 handguns, 281 rifles and shotguns, 27 assault weapons and 146 inoperable firearms and BB/pellet guns at state-and locally-sponsored gun buybacks on August 7.

Each of the gun buybacks represented a collaboration between law enforcement and community stakeholders, who promoted and assisted with the six-hour events.

“We are committed to reducing gun violence across the state and this initiative is another step toward making our communities safer,” New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan said. “Fewer firearms in the wrong hands will lead to less violence in our neighborhoods, and this program will play a huge role in protecting our cities and saving lives.”

Bruck and Gov. Phil Murphy are leading a comprehensive, statewide effort to reduce gun deaths, which pairs the latest evidence-based policing strategies with innovative, community-based prevention programs.

The three-pronged approach to tackling this public health crisis includes addressing the root causes of violence; keeping guns away from those most likely to harm others; and taking swift action against those who break the law.

“When we reduce the number of firearms in circulation, we reduce the amount of violence in our communities,” said Lyndsay V. Ruotolo, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice. “The gun buyback program is a collaborative effort across all law enforcement that demonstrates how effective it is when we work together.”

Other gun buyback events will take place in the following locations:

Bergen County
St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church
55 West Demarest Avenue, Englewood
In partnership with Prosecutor Mark Musella

Cumberland County
Alms Center
1 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Bridgeton
In partnership with Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae

Mercer County
Friendship Baptist Church
111 Perry Street, Trenton
In partnership with Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri

Middlesex/Somerset Counties
First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens
771 Somerset Street, Somerset
In partnership with Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson and Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone

Monmouth County
Second Baptist Church of Asbury Park
124 Atkins Avenue, Asbury Park
In partnership with Prosecutor Lori Linskey
(This location will open at 8:30 a.m.)

Salem County
Carneys Point Fire Department
258 D Street, Carneys Point
In partnership with Prosecutor Kristin J. Telsey

Union County
In Partnership with Prosecutor William Daniel
(The following locations will open at 9:00 a.m.)
Master’s Table Christian Fellowship (Triumphant Life Church)
207-211 Bond Street, Elizabeth
Shiloh Baptist Church Community Center
Corner of W 5th Street and Liberty Street, Plainfield
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church
506 Westfield Avenue, Westfield

Residents with questions about the buyback effort can call the Attorney General’s Office of Constituent Services at 609-984-5828 or visit www.njoag.gov/gunbuyback.