More than 100 firearms were collected during a Germantown gun buyback event last Saturday, according to County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Earl Stoddard.
The guns collected included 50 handguns, 28 rifles, 19 shotguns, two machine guns, eight ghost guns, and other items including stun guns, a BB gun and a cross bow, he said during a county media briefing Wednesday.
“It seemed very productive, and obviously got more firearms off the street, which could be utilized either for crime but also for suicide as well,” Stoddard said.
County State’s Attorney John McCarthy holding two 3D-printed ghost guns at the buyback event.
Residents had the opportunity to bring their unwanted guns to a drive-thru buyback event on Saturday. They received gift cards in exchange for working, unloaded firearms — anonymously and with no questions asked.
All guns collected will be destroyed and will not be repurposed. For working handguns, rifles, and shotguns, participants got a $100 gift card to Giant. Participants received a $200 gift card to Giant for functioning military assault-style guns and ghost guns.
The D.C. Area Interfaith Gun Violence Prevention Network helped raise more than $27,000 to buy-back the guns. It was the first faith-based, upcounty gun buyback, hosted by the Interfaith GVP Network in partnership with the county Sheriff and county State’s Attorney.
Related:
Unwanted Guns Exchanged for Gift Cards at Drive-Thru Buyback in Germantown
