In an effort to reduce the number of unwanted and unneeded guns in the state, New Jersey is sponsoring a gun buyback program later this week.

State Attorney General Christopher Porrino says three churches in north, central and south Jersey will become drop off points for the weapons this Friday and Saturday, July 28 and 29.

"We will be paying for guns that are walked into locations in each of those three cities, Trenton, Camden and Newark."

It is called "Cash for Guns." Porrino says they picked locations in three urban areas because "it is where, there is, unfortunately, gun violence that plagues the cities in each of these locations."

"Trenton, Camden and Newark seem like good and smart, logical places to start. We have also teamed up with our federal partners in the U.S. Attorney's Office, not only in respect to this gun buyback, but to take a hard line on individuals who commit crime with guns."

The program will offer $100 for a rifle or shotgun, $120 for a handgun, and $200 for an assault weapon, no questions asked.

"These are not tax dollars being spent in purchasing these guns and getting these guns off the streets. We are utilizing criminal forfeiture funds that are obtained, in some cases, involving acts of gun violence."

What happen to all of the firearms that are collected at these programs?

"These guns will be taken into our custody and transported out of the churches and locations where the buybacks are going to be held, and then melted down and destroyed."

Porrino says the gun buybacks are utilized along with with tougher penalties for gun offenders.

Joe Cutter is the afternoon news anchor on New Jersey 101.5

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