Union County Collects 520 Guns In Single-Day Gun Buyback

UNION COUNTY, NJ — This month's gun buyback day was the largest event of its kind in the state, spanning ten locations across nine counties and yielding nearly 3,000 firearms.

Union County collected 520 guns during the event at its three locations in Elizabeth, Plainfield and Westfield. Of those 520 guns, six were assault weapons, 267 were rifles or shotguns and 247 were handguns.

New Jersey residents were invited to turn in up to three firearms of any type “no questions asked,” and could earn a maximum of $750. Under standardized pricing set for the buybacks, gun owners were paid $25 for inoperable firearms and BB/pellet guns, $125 for rifles and shotguns, $200 for handguns, and $250 for assault weapons. The buybacks were funded predominantly by forfeiture dollars obtained by the local police departments and County Prosecutors’ Offices, as well as forfeiture funds from the Division of Criminal Justice.

“I am pleased to share that Saturday’s gun buyback event in Union County netted a total of more than 520 unwanted firearms,” said Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel. “Through our partnerships with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Union County Board of County Commissioners, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Union County, Elizabeth, Plainfield, and Westfield police departments, local houses of worship, and with the enthusiastic participation of community members, countless acts of gun violence and unanticipated tragedy have been prevented.”