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Attorney General Chiesa Announces 1,500-Plus Guns Obtained In Weekend Gun Buyback Initiative in Monmouth County

 

Photo credit:Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office

Photo credit:Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

TRENTON–Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced today that more than 1,500 guns were turned in by Monmouth County residents during a state-sponsored gun buyback event held at churches in Asbury Park and Keansburg this past weekend.

According to Chiesa, county residents turned in a total of 1,581 guns – including 15 assault weapons –during the two-day buyback held at the Shiloh Community Fellowship Ministry in Asbury Park and the Saint Ann Catholic Church in Keansburg.

The number of guns obtained in Monmouth County brings to 7,092 the total number of firearms collected so far as a result of four state-led gun buybacks. A buyback held in Camden County last December yielded 1,137 guns, and a buyback in Mercer County in January brought in another 2,604 firearms. A February buyback held in Essex County resulted in the collection of another 1,770 guns.

Attorney General Chiesa said this past weekend’s strong turn-out by Monmouth County residents demonstrates continued support of the State-led buyback initiative by citizens concerned about gun violence and eager to help rid their communities of dangerous firearms.

“This buyback was another success and another step forward in our ongoing effort to make New Jersey safer by taking guns off the streets,” Chiesa said during a press conference at the Monmouth County Police Academy in Freehold. “It’s a credit to the residents of Monmouth County, and to the residents of each county we’ve visited to date, that we’ve collected a total of nearly 7,100 firearms so far. That’s 7,100 guns that will never be used to commit a crime or take the life of an innocent person, and that will never go off by accident, killing a curious child. ”

“Every gun turned in during this program had the potential to harm someone, whether intentionally or accidentally, because no one is immune to the potential of gun violence especially police officers and any of our sons and daughters,” said Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. “The voluntary surrender of these weapons simply makes our streets and neighborhoods safer.”

Among other weapons, the Monmouth County gun buyback this past weekend brought in 761 handguns, 409 rifles and 356 shotguns.

According to Attorney General Chiesa, a total of $209,175 in State and County criminal forfeiture funds were used to buy back the firearms – all but 40 of them operable.

Chiesa acknowledged that gun buybacks alone can’t solve the complex and multi-faceted problem of gun violence, but he called them a crucial element of a broader strategy aimed at reducing shooting deaths and injuries in New Jersey.

“There is no question that buybacks are part of the overall solution. And we believe they’re making a real difference throughout our state, particularly in light of the hundreds of illegal guns we’ve been able to take out of circulation,” the Attorney General said, referring to guns that are unlawful to own either because they feature excessively high magazine capacities, have been sawed-off, or have been modified in other ways.

The Monmouth County buyback yielded 45 illegal guns, including 12 sawed-off shotguns, one 12-gauge shotgun with a “streetsweeper” drum cartridge, a Tech-9 semi-automatic pistol, an AK-47 assault rifle and three M-1 type assault rifles. Counting the illegal firearms received in Monmouth County, state-led buybacks have now resulted in the removal of more than 1,000 illegal guns from the street.

The Monmouth buyback event was a cooperative effort involving the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Police, the state Division of Criminal Justice, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and the faith-based community in Monmouth County.

Noting that their support and leadership were vital to gaining community-level support for the buyback event, Attorney General Chiesa again thanked Rev. Mark White of the Shiloh Community Fellowship Ministry in Asbury Park and Father Daniel Cahill of the Saint Ann Catholic Church.

Those who turned in their weapons during the “no questions asked” buyback were paid up to $250 per gun, and the maximum number of guns that could be turned in was three.

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Posted: March 12th, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa, Guns, Jeffrey S. Chiesa, Monmouth County Prosecutor, Press Release | Tags: , , , , | 6 Comments »

6 Comments on “Attorney General Chiesa Announces 1,500-Plus Guns Obtained In Weekend Gun Buyback Initiative in Monmouth County”

  1. But, The Question Remains said at 8:06 pm on March 12th, 2013:

    How many hardened CRIMINALS sold back their guns? Betcha none and this well intentioned effort will do little to reduce gun violence.

    Yes, accidental shootings will be reduced; and that’s a good thing; but we keep our nose buried in the sand and fail to enforce existing gun laws and lock away those criminals, drug lords and gang bangers for a loooooooong time.

  2. Exactly: said at 9:11 pm on March 12th, 2013:

    whatever’s makes the libs feel safer, like this stops the real crooks from committing their crimes? Right. And,how much tax money is spent,each time these are done?

  3. Bob English said at 9:30 pm on March 12th, 2013:

    Local police chiefs believe this is well worth the effort and if it saves the life of a member of your family you would also.

  4. MLaffey said at 10:54 pm on March 12th, 2013:

    What a complete waste of money and a waste of some fine firearms.
    It does not reduce the # of firearms it just reduces the number of old firearms.
    It is another thing the politicians do to make the gullible voters believe they are doing something.

  5. Vincent Crabbe said at 8:59 am on March 13th, 2013:

    1,500 guns is a drop of water in the ocean of guns. This has zero actual impact. It is just more feel-good propaganda for the left.

  6. Bob English said at 9:36 am on March 13th, 2013:

    Actually you have no idea what the impact will have especially if a death or two (or more) never happens because of the buyback. Maybe its a few less guns stolen and than used while committing crimes. Maybe its one less gun for a disturbed family member to get ahold of and either kill themselves or other people.