In February, law enforcement authorities sponsored a gun buyback program in Essex County, collecting 1,770 weapons from Essex residents over two days.
Now, it’s Bergen County’s turn. On Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office will partner with local police departments to host a countywide gun buyback at places of worship in seven communities: Garfield, Hackensack, Englewood, Fair Lawn, Maywood, Park Ridge and New Milford.
According to a statement from Sheriff Michael Saudino’s office, the buyback is being held “in light of the recent acts of gun violence that have taken place across our nation.”
“If we can take even one dangerous weapon off our streets, we can make Bergen County a safer place in which to live, work and play,” the statement said.
Individuals who turn in firearms can receive up to $300 for each weapon surrendered. Compensation varies by firearm type: $20 for non-operational weapons; $80 for rifles and shotguns; $100 for handguns, and $300 for automatic assault weapons and machine guns.
Fully automatic weapons are considered assault weapons (machine guns/machine pistols, etc).
BB guns, pellet guns, gunpowder and ammunition will also be accepted, however no cash value will be offered for those items, the Sheriff ’s Office noted.
Unlike the Essex County initiative, which had a threegun- per person limit, Bergen County has set no limit on the number of firearms an individual can turn in. However, “we are not able to accept any weapons from gun dealers,” Bergen authorities said.
The buyback will be funded by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office with money seized from criminal activities.
At each surrender site, BCSO firearms experts and officers will examine and secure all weapons. “An officer will assist each individual in completing a voluntary surrender form that includes a general description of each firearm, time and date of surrender, and amount of compensation provided,” authorities said.
Complimentary trigger locks and gun safety information will also be provided at each location.
All firearms should be carried unloaded and contained in a closed and fastened case, gun box, securely tied package, or locked in the trunk of the automobile in which they are being transported.
Ammunition should be transported in a separate container.
Officers will be on hand to assist individuals with carrying weapons safely into each buyback location.
Those locations are:
April 13
Garfield
Our Lady of Mount Virgin
St. Joseph’s Center
188 MacArthur Ave.
Maywood
First Presbyterian Church
401 Maywood Ave.
Park Ridge
Our Lady of Mercy Church
46 Pascack Road
Hackensack
Mount Olive Baptist Church
260 Central Ave
Hackensack
Rhema Worship Center Church
156 Passaic Street
April 14
Englewood
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
90 West Demarest Ave.
Fair Lawn Temple
Beth Sholom
40-25 Fair Lawn Ave.
Hackensack
New Hope Baptist Church
214 Berdan Pl.
Hackensack
Trinity Baptist Church
218 Passaic St.
New Milford
St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
225 Center St.
Teaneck
First Baptist Church
1592 Teaneck Road
For more information about the Bergen County gun buyback, contact BCSO’s Community Outreach Unit at 201-336- 3540.
–Karen Zautyk
