Sonoma County Residents Hand Over Guns at Marin Buyback

Bay City News Service

Marin County followed the lead taken by counties across California by hosting its which resulted in the collection of over 800 guns from residents of the San Francisco Bay Area, including Sonoma
County police said.

The total number of guns brought in to police in Marin County added up to 827, according to police.

Residents of Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco and Contra Costa counties were compensated when they surrendered firearms. The gun buyback was scheduled for Dr. Martin Luther King's Day in remembrance of Dr. King advocacy of non-violence, according to Marin County's District Attorney Ed Berberian.

In Novato, police bought back 277 guns and in San Rafael, 223 guns were bought back. Central Marin police reported 206 gun buybacks, while Marin City bought back 71 guns. Point Reyes gun buybacks totaled 50, according to
police.

Individuals surrendering operable semi-automatic handguns or semi-automatic guns received $200 for each firearm, according to the district attorney's office.

Residents who surrendered other types of firearms received $100 for each firearm.

This "no questions asked" program meant that no police investigations were generated, according to the district attorney's office.

Marin County committed $10,000, while the Marin Community Foundation contributed an additional $20,000 to the program.

The general community has also mailed individual contributions to the district attorney to support the program.

According to the district attorney, the second surrender date has been scheduled for Jan. 21, at the San Rafael Police Department and the Mill Valley Police Department from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sonoma County has no current plans to provide its own buyback events, according to spokesman Jim Leddy.

TELL US: Do you own a gun? Will you be taking it to a buyback program?