Gun Turn-In Event Later This Month Across Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Authorities have announced an upcoming gun turn-in event for households looking to safety dispose of unwanted firearms.

The program, termed "Operation Safe Homes," will give Montgomery County residents an opportunity turn in any unwanted firearms, although no compensation will be offered for the guns, which will be destroyed following the countywide collection.

All types of unloaded firearms will be accepted at the drop-off locations, although no bullets or magazines will be accepted.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office is partnering with local police chiefs and the Pennsylvania State Police for the program.

District Attorney Kevin Steele said the goal of the gun turn-in program is to rid homes of firearms that may be hidden and not used.

"Studies show that children know where the family keeps a firearm," Steele said in a statement. "And with a number of recent shootings and homicides in Montgomery County involving teenagers, as well as social media promoting gun carrying by teens, parents may want to have some tough conversations with their teens and take a look around. We'll accept those guns, too, and maybe save some lives in the process."

The gun collection event will take place on Nov. 16 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The following locations will serve as drop off points for people wanting to turn in guns:

• Abington Township Police Department, 166 Old York Road, Abington
• East Norriton Township Police Department, 2501 Stanbridge Street, East Norriton
• Hatfield Township Police Department, 2000 School Road, Hatfield
• Lower Merion Township Police Department, 71 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore
• Marlborough Township Police Department, 6040 Upper Ridge Road, Green Lane
• New Hanover Police Department, 2373 Hoffmansville Road, Frederick
• Pennsylvania State Police-Skippack Barracks, 2047C Bridge Road, Schwenksville
• Plymouth Township Police Department, 700 Belvoir Road, Plymouth Meeting
• Pottstown Borough Police Department, 100 E. High Street, Pottstown
• Springfield Township Police Department, 1510 Paper Mill Road, Wyndmoor
• Upper Dublin Township Police Department, 520 Virginia Drive, Fort Washington
• Upper Merion Township Police Department, 175 W. Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia
• Upper Providence Township Police Department, 1286 Black Rock Road, Oaks

Steele said 170 unwanted firearms of all types were collected when his office held similar events in 2018 and 2019.

"Residents, especially elderly widows, were profuse in thanking us for holding this event and allowing them to get rid of guns they did not want," Steele stated. "But let me be very clear: we are not taking guns away from anyone. This is a community service to any gun-owning resident who has decided to get guns out of their house and permanently off the street. It doesn't matter what type of firearm — from long guns to pistols — we'll take them and destroy them by melting them down."

Any questions about the upcoming program can be directed toward the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at 610-278-3368.