More States Shell Out Thousands During Gun Buybacks Following 5th Anniversary of Sandy Hook

By Erika Haas

Another state has shelled out thousands in gift cards in an effort to get guns off the streets. On Saturday, December 16th, police departments across Worchester County in central Massachusetts held their 16th annual Goods for Guns buyback event.

According to the Telegram, police gave out grocery gift cards in exchange for unwanted firearms; $25 for rifles, $50 for pistols and $75 for automatic or semiautomatic weapons. The county reportedly brought in 219 guns, including replica and pellet guns. However, it is not clear how many semi-automatic and fully-automatic weapons were turned in, many of which are listed under the states “assault weapons” ban.

While 219 weapons may seem like a lot, it appears to be pretty standard for the program. Over the past 15 years, Goods for Guns has brought in more than 3,100 guns, which means they average about 200 a year.

The program was first brought to Massachusetts by Dr. Michael Hirsh, surgeon-in-chief at Children’s Medical Center at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Hirsh tells the Telegram that gun violence has been an important issue to him since his friend and colleague was shot and killed in New York City in 1981. Over a decade later, in 1994, …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms