San Mateo County is hosting another gun buyback event this December, and officials said that since 2018, the county has collected more than 2,000 firearms with the program.
“Fewer guns means fewer chances for guns falling into the wrong hands,” said Don Horsley, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors president and the county’s former sheriff.
The gun buyback event takes place on Dec. 3 in San Carlos from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1000 Skyway Rd. in San Carlos.
“Our communities are generally safe,” said Supervisor Dave Pine. “But gun violence remains and many tragedies occur due to easily accessible guns. Removing unwanted guns is a significant step to improve community safety.”
Through the program, residents are encouraged to exchange functioning and non-functioning guns for a cash payment.
The buyback program pays the following:
- $50 for non-functioning firearms
- $100 for handguns, shotguns and rifles
- $200 for assault weapons and “ghost guns” as classified by the State of California
“You can keep your family safer if you get rid of unwanted firearms. It’s tragic but over half of all suicides occur with the use of a firearm,” said Horsley.
Participants must transport firearms unloaded in a vehicle trunk or, for trucks and vans, in a locked container.
The county has collected a total of 2,071 firearms over five buybacks held since May 2018. The program has paid out a total of $206,500.
The program is funded through the voter-approved Measure K sales tax. Program sponsors include:
- The County of San Mateo
- San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office
- Redwood City Police
- Belmont Police
- City of San Carlos
- Citizens for a San Mateo County Gun Buyback
The Dec. 3 gun buyback event will be held For more information, call 650-363-4800. Additional gun buybacks are also planned for 2023.
