Columbus hosting gun buyback event, will give up to $750 for each firearm

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The City of Columbus' gun buyback event is aimed at keeping unwanted guns away from children and out of the hands of criminals.

On Saturday, the Office of Violence Prevention will host the event for the second time, in partnership with the Columbus Division of Police. The director of the Office of Violence Prevention and Columbus police leadership said if they can collect even one gun that could be used in a crime or that a child could get ahold of it makes the city safer.

“And so, this provides an opportunity for the community to provide us with their unwanted firearms," said Rena Shak, director of the Office of Violence Prevention. "They get cash gift cards in return, and we can guarantee that these firearms get taken out of circulation, which means that it's one less firearm a child can get their hands on, one less firearm that can be stolen and used for crime or one less firearm that can be used for self harm."

Shak said in Columbus and nationwide, guns are being stolen from homes and cars and landing in the hands of criminals. She said the city’s gun buyback is about preventing that.

”I think that the narrative that these firearms that are being turned in aren't necessarily the street guns that we're looking for was proven untrue last year,” Shak said.

Shak said this time the buyback will be at Franklin University. They are looking for handguns, rifles, shotguns and assault rifles, according to Shak. In return, people will get cash gift cards of up to $750 for each gun that's turned in. The buyback is fully anonymous.

"344 guns were collected last year. So, we're really looking forward to improving on those numbers," said Columbus Police Deputy Chief Elrico Alli II. "What we're trying to do is, we're trying to take guns out of the hands of children, out of the hands of irresponsible people and out of hands of people involved in criminal activity and people involved in the criminal element. And this allows us to do that with community engagement."

Alli said police officers will also be giving out gun locks to promote safe storage.

Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said it is concerning to her every time she hears about stolen guns and crimes committed with stolen guns. NBC4 asked Bryant if she thinks this event makes a difference.

"Well, what I can tell you is that as long as we get one gun off the street and done something successful, any time we could take a gun out of a home where it could be used to injure a child or it could be used to commit some sort of violence in our city, it's a win for us," Byrant said.

Organizers asked people to show up to the event with the firearms unloaded and in the trunk.
They have more than $100,000 to give out. The event starts at 10 a.m. and will go until the money runs out.