NJ Gun Buyback Program Tops 300 Over 2-Day Period

Another gun buyback program in central New Jersey has produced another bumper crop of firearms.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said Wednesday that more than 300 guns were turned in last weekend during the two-day event staged in New Brunswick. Most of the surrendered weapons were handguns, but the haul also included an Uzi sub-machine gun and other assault weapons.

Anyone turning in an operable handgun received $80, while $150 was paid for each operable assault weapon. Kaplan said some people would not accept money for the weapons they turned in, while others surrendered shotguns and rifles with the knowledge that payment would not be made for those weapons.

Overall, $22,010 was paid out and 311 firearms were collected. Kaplan said all weapons will be destroyed by authorities.  

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)