Over 1,300 Guns Collected At Bergen County Buyback
HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A total of 1,307 guns were collected this weekend at a gun buyback event in Bergen County, N.J.
The buyback was held on Saturday and Sunday at places of worship in Garfield, Maywood, Park Ridge, Hackensack, New Milford, Englewood and Teaneck. Officials were pleased with the success they achieved.
"In 2010, when the sheriff's department did its last gun buyback, they got 703, so we almost doubled that number this time around," Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino told WCBS 880.
Saudino said the gun buyback was so successful that the sheriff's office at one point ran out of money to pay those who were turning in weapons.
"I think it was very successful. There were even people – we ran out of money – that we had to turn away, which of course, out of our control; certain amount of funding," Saudino said.
The original allotment of funds for the buyback program was $75,000. The Bergen County Prosecutor stepped in and gave the sheriff's office another $35,000 to continue the event on Sunday.
The going rate for assault-style weapons and machine guns is $300, for shotguns and rifles $80, and for handguns $100 – no questions asked.
Saudino said previously that he did not expect any criminals to turn up with guns to hand in, but he said the program is worth it anyway.
"You know, so many people spoke; a lot of housewives who lost husbands, and they had weapons, and the wives just didn't feel comfortable in the house and they had to get rid of it," Saudino said.
He said accidental shootings in the news, as well as the bad economy, played a role in gun buyback popularity.
Saudino added that his office would hold another gun buyback if the funds were available.
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