A.G. Schneiderman Launches Statewide Gun Buyback Program

ROCHESTER - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that his office will be sponsoring a statewide gun buyback program in cities across New York State. During a press conference at the kickoff event in Rochester, Attorney General Schneiderman announced that his office will be accepting working and non-working, unloaded weapons in exchange for compensation on site in Binghamton, Poughkeepsie, Utica, Yonkers, and the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga in the coming weeks. 

"By encouraging gun owners to turn in their weapons through our cash-for-guns program, we're removing deadly firearms from locations where they can be stolen or otherwise misused, keeping them out of the wrong hands," Attorney General Schneiderman said. "Every day, my office fights to ensure all New Yorkers are safe and secure in their communities. Along with vigorously enforcing our state's gun laws, I'm proud that my office has taken this additional step to stop the outbreak of gun violence that has plagued our communities."

In 2011, close to 33,000 Americans were victims of gun-related deaths. Further, The Brady Campaign to prevent gun violence reports that an average of 268 people are shot every day in America. That's 97,820 people per year.

The kickoff buyback event on Saturday, September 28, is a collaborative effort between the Southwest Gun Buyback Committee and the New York Attorney General's office, in cooperation with the Rochester Police Department. The Southwest Gun Buyback Committee consists of a growing list of sponsors, including the Attorney General's office, whose collective goal is to reduce gun violence in their communities.

"This gun buyback event is our effort to control the gun violence that plagues our communities and help us take back our streets," said Susan Morehouse of the Southwest Gun Buyback Committee. "I have seen too many people lose loved ones to this epidemic, and we could no longer stand by and do nothing. We thank Attorney General Schneiderman for his involvement in our buyback effort, and for expanding the project to other cities across New York."

"The main focus of the Rochester Police Department is to reduce violence," said Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard. "Therefore, we are proud to assist Susan Morehouse and the Attorney General's office with the upcoming gun buyback program. Every gun turned in reduces the chance for a violent act to occur."

The Attorney General's office will offer money in the form of debit cards when a gun is received by law enforcement officers. Debit cards with the appropriate amount will be issued after each unloaded gun is received and screened by the officers on-site. The Southwest Gun Buyback Committee is supplementing the debit cards with gift cards to a local grocery story chain.

Guns must be transported to the drop-off site unloaded and placed in a plastic or paper bag or box. Both working and non-working firearms will be accepted, and there is no limit on the number of firearms an individual can return. Licensed gun dealers, and active or retired law enforcement officers, are not eligible for this program.

The Attorney General's Office will be providing the following compensation by debit card for firearms returned on site:

• $25.00 for antique and non-working firearms
• $50.00 for rifles and shotguns
• $75.00 for handguns
• $100.00 for assault weapons

If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact Debra Martin, Assistant Attorney General in Charge, Rochester Regional Office, at 585-546-7514.