James to host first ever statewide gun buyback on April 29
In her ongoing efforts to protect New Yorkers from gun violence and to keep communities safe, New York Attorney General Letitia James is hosting the first-ever statewide community gun buyback in New York on Saturday, April 29.
James said on Tuesday that the one-day statewide initiative will feature nine simultaneous gun buyback events held across the state, at which the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will “accept — with no questions asked — working and non-working, unloaded firearms in exchange for compensation on site. “
“The OAG provides money in the form of prepaid gift cards when a gun is received and secured by law enforcement officers on site,” James said.
Working in partnership with local law enforcement agencies and leaders, the attorney general is hosting the gun buybacks at the following times and locations: Family Life Academy in the Bronx — 14 West 170th St., Bronx, NY 10452. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; All Saints Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn — 115 Throop Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11206. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; OAG Suffolk Regional Office in Suffolk County — 300 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY 11788. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Watervliet Dome in Albany County — 1300 2nd Ave., Watervliet, NY 12189. 10 a.m to 1 p.m.; American Legion Post in Ulster County —18 West O’Reilly St., Kingston, NY 12401. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and St. Lucy’s Food Pantry in Onondaga County — 425 Gifford St., Syracuse, NY 13204. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..
The other locations are: Johnson City Senior Center in Broome County — 30 Brocton St., Johnson City, NY 13790. 10 a.m to 1 p.m.; Clinton County Fairgrounds in Clinton County — 84 Fair Grounds Rd., Plattsburgh, NY 12901. 10 a.m to 1 p.m.; and St. John’s African Methodist Episcopal Church in Niagara County — 917 Garden & Richard Allen Way, Niagara Falls, NY 14302. 10 a.m to 1 p.m.
The OAG will be providing the following amount for firearms turned in on site at each event: $500 per assault rifle or ghost gun; $150 per handgun ($500 will be given for the first handgun turned in per person); $75 per rifle or shotgun; and $25 per non-working, replica, antique, homemade, or 3D printed gun.
James said the OAG accepts both working and non-working firearms, adding that there is no limit on the number of firearms an individual can turn in.
“The guns must be unloaded and placed in a bag or a box,” she said. “This is an amnesty program, in which no questions will be asked about the person dropping off the gun.”
This statewide initiative is part of Attorney General James’ efforts to combat gun violence and protect people from harm.
To date, James has helped remove more than 4,000 guns from New York communities since 2019.
