Gun buybacks in NJ: Looking to make some extra cash this summer?

As part of a multi-pronged approach to make the Garden State safer, law enforcement officials have announced a special two-day, three-location gun buy-back program, set for the end of next month.

According to New Jersey State Attorney General Chris Porrino, the gun buyback event will be held on Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29, at churches in Camden, Trenton and Newark.

“Between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on those days, residents can turn in three firearms of any type, no questions asked, and receive up to $200 dollars per gun,” he said.

He said residents will be paid $100 for a rifle or a shotgun, $120 for a handgun or a revolver and $200 for an assault weapon.

Guns will be accepted at the Antioch Baptist Church on Ferry Avenue in Camden, the Friendship Baptist Church on Perry Street in Trenton and the Greater Abyssinian Baptist Church on Lyons Avenue in Newark.

Porrino added police officers will be stationed at the three churches to collect and secure the guns.

“This is about making New Jersey a safer place, by taking guns and the criminals who use them off the street," he said.

And he stressed the program “will cost the New Jersey taxpayers nothing. We will be utilizing criminal forfeiture funds.”

He said the buyback event will be publicized on radio, TV and social media.

“Gun violence is a very complicated problem, and holding a gun buyback is not the complete answer, but we do know guns left lying around someone’s home are a common source of tragedy,” he said.

William Fitzpatrick, the acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, said the gun buyback program will measurably make a difference.

“There is no doubt that the fewer guns on the street means that people are safer,” he said.

He stressed moving forward there will be greater coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement entities to go after criminals using guns.

“The United States Attorney’s office is devoting more prosecutorial resources to gun crimes, to gun defendants in Camden, Newark and Trenton,” Fitzpatrick said.

He said representatives from his office will meet in the coming weeks from police officials in those cities to find out “how can the federal government, how can the Marshal Service, the FBI, the DEA, the AFT, how can we help them protect their communities.”

He said his office is ready to listen and respond.

“We are responding with more agents, with more prosecutors, with a greater determination than ever before," he said.

Porrino added the enhanced effort to crack down on criminals using guns “will include seeking no bail for certain offenders charged with gun crimes under our new bail reform laws, and stepping up cooperation with our federal partners as well.”

You can contact reporter David Matthau at David.Matthau@townsquaremedia.com.