By Douglas Yu

On Saturday, August 16, the City of Somerville Police Department, in conjunction with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Department, offered gun buyback in exchange for grocery store gift certificates.

The event did not require identification from the firearms owners, and it successfully collected 15 firearms by the end of the day.

“Today, there are 15 fewer guns in Somerville that will never be used to accidentally hurt someone or to commit a crime,” Somerville Police Chief, Charlie Femino wrote on the updated press release.

The collected firearms include a .21 shotgun that is usually used for hunting and target shooting and a couple of .22 rifles.

The community was informed through various local news sources about the gun buyback event. Similar programs have taken place in other cities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well. “It’s been successful,” said Femino.

“The gun buyback event gives our citizens an opportunity to dispose of unwanted firearms and to reduce the potential of any accidental shootings in the future,” said Femino. “Other communities, such as Belmont, Arlington and Melrose, have all done similar programs, and it’s considered a success.”

Middlesex Sheriff, Peter Koutoujian mentioned in the press release that over 31,000 fatalities and 74,000 firearms-related injuries happen across the country each year. “Giving residents a way to safely dispose of unwanted firearms and ammunition makes all our communities safer,” he wrote.

However, the Somerville Police Department does not have the statistics concerning the number of accidental killings by guns in Somerville.

“In many cases, family members passed away, and these guns are either left in the attic or in the cellar, and sometimes they are left behind for years,” Femino said. He also added that in some other cases, people who have access to firearms use them in suicides or accidental shootings may take place.

“There are many unwanted firearms that are left behind by deceased owners,” Femino said. Speaking of those firearms that are accidentally left to unlicensed citizens, Femino added, “The City of Somerville should provide somebody who has a license the opportunity to transport those guns to the local police department.”

On the other hand, Femino pointed out that there was no way to tell how many people in Somerville own firearms illegally, and are not willing to turn them in.

“We are not actively seeking out people with unlicensed firearms, those people who are unlicensed, but have firearms in their homes,” Femino said. “This is a voluntarily event, and this is a chance for Somerville residents to take those guns, and not to worry about being charged and bringing them to a safe place.”

All the firearms or ammunition that was obtained at the gun buyback event will be turned over to the Middlesex Sheriff Department. They will make arrangements with the state police to destroy all the collected firearms by melting them down.