Assault Weapons, Mortar Shell Collected at Bergen Gun Buyback

Bergen County's weekend gun buyback collected 1,345 firearms, including 10 assault weapons, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition and a mortar shell, officials said Tuesday. 

Sheriff Michael Saudino displayed the two-day program's haul, from antiques to automatic weapons, during a press conference in Hackensack. Saudino hailed the program as a way to boost safety in the county, but said he would continue working to prevent gun violence. 

“As we’ve seen far too many times, gun violence – whether intentional or accidental – destroys lives," the sheriff said. "While this initiative was a great step in getting unwanted firearms off our streets and out of our homes, we’ll continue to find ways to curb gun violence and protect our children, our families and our neighborhoods.”

Authorities paid out $101,923 to those who anonymously turned in weapons across 11 locations in Bergen County. In addition to guns, 55,000 rounds of ammunition were also collected. 

“No one knows what the future of any of these weapons will be,” Saudino said. “One thing I do know is when you take 1,345 weapons, whether it’s off the street or out of the house, we are increasing safety in Bergen County.”

The program, funded by prosecutor's office seized assets, ran out of money on the first day but was able to continue after another infusion of cash, he said.

In New Milford, sheriff's officials said what was believed to be a live mortar shell was turned in and being stored in a secure bunker. Of the 10 assault weapons collected, one came from Teaneck and half were turned over in Park Ridge. 

New Jerseyans have handed over record-setting numbers of weapons at similar events across the state. Bergen's buyback was prompted by a request from a community group in Garfield and expanded to towns from Englewood to Fair Lawn. 

"This is not a local issue. It's a regional one, it's a national one, it's one that's worldwide," Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli told reporters. 

Houses of worship were used as no-questions-asked collection sites to offer a more neutral location than police stations. 

"This program was the product of ordinary citizens and community leaders doing their small part and improving public safety in Bergen County," Saudino said.

Firearms experts with the sheriff's Bureau of Criminal Investigation would examine the weapons to see if any were reported stolen or used in any crimes, he said. Historical guns would be offered up to museums while the others destroyed. 

A 2010 gun buyback in Bergen County netted about 700 weapons.