The gun buyback program wraps up in Somerville this coming Saturday at the Department of Public Works.

By Josie Grove

The Somerville Police Department will be buying guns this Saturday, June 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Department of Public Works, 1 Franey Road, Somerville. The gun buyback aims to get unwanted guns out of homes, with the goal of reducing gun-related accidents, suicide, and gun violence, particularly domestic violence, in Somerville.

Everything from pellet guns to assault-style rifles will be accepted during the buyback. The police and sheriff’s department ask only that firearms be unloaded with the safety engaged, and be in a box, bag, or case. In return for turning in a firearm, people will receive gift cards worth between $50 and $200, depending on the type of gun. Most common types of firearms will be exchanged for $100 gift cards.

People bringing guns to the buyback will not be asked for ID, and will not have to answer any questions about the gun or its provenance. The “no questions asked” policy is typical during gun buybacks in other cities and counties. Law enforcement believes anonymity will make people more willing to sell off their guns.

Buybacks over the last two weeks in Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, and Watertown turned up 115 guns, according to the Middlesex County Sherriff’s Department. Those guns include one AR-15 assault-style rifle, according to the department’s Twitter account.

~ Photos courtesy of the Arlington Police Department

“I want to thank all our law enforcement, community and faith-based partners for their incredible work, both leading up to this first weekend and throughout the first day,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian in a statement released by the department after buybacks in Cambridge, Arlington, and Belmont on June 11. “The weapons turned in Saturday included inherited rifles, handguns residents simply did not want in their homes anymore, as well as realistic-looking BB guns.”

Since the Middlesex County buyback programs began in 2013, several buyback events have yielded well over 300 unwanted guns.

After the buyback, officers in the police and sheriff’s departments will check each gun they buy back to make sure that it has not been reported stolen, and that it is not connected in any crimes. They then create a record of any identifying information, such as serial numbers. Finally, the Massachusetts State Police will destroy the guns.

This Saturday’s buyback will be the last one of this series of buybacks in Middlesex County. Owners of unwanted guns may turn in their firearms even if they live outside of Somerville. If a gun owner is not able to bring his or her firearms to the buyback Department of Public Works on Saturday, he or she may contact the Somerville Police Department and arrange to dispose of the gun.