Mercer County Collects 194 Guns During Massive NJ Buyback Event

Princeton NJ

29 October, 2021

9:49 AM

Description

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A total of 194 guns were collected at Friendship Baptist Church in Trenton during what authorities called "New Jersey's largest ever single-day gun buyback" event last weekend. In all, nearly 3,000 firearms were collected at gun buyback events held at 10 locations in Bergen, Camden, Cumberland, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Salem, Somerset, and Union counties, according to officials. Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck made the announcement with county prosecutors and law enforcement leaders during a news conference at the Nation Guard Armory in Lawrenceville on Thursday. The "Guns for Cash" events were held at Englewood, Camden, Bridgeton, Trenton, Somerset, Asbury Park, Carneys Point, Elizabeth, Plainfield, and Westfield yielded 2,806 firearms. They include 1,196 handguns, 1,206 rifles/shotguns, and 29 assault rifles. In Mercer County, 102 rifles/shotguns, 58 handguns, and two assault rifles were collected, authorities said. "Mercer County is proud to have played a part in such a successful collaboration," Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said in a statement. "To see such a turnout from our citizens and community leaders was so encouraging and demonstrates people really want to make a difference. Mercer County pledges to continue to put the work in every day to combat gun violence and remove illegal guns from our neighborhoods." Bruck said that every gun recovered represents a potential life saved. "Our gun buyback events are a great example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together with the communities they serve," Bruck said. New Jersey residents were invited to turn in up to three firearms of any type "no questions asked," and could earn up to $750. Under standardized pricing set for the buybacks, gun owners were paid $25 for inoperable firearms and BB/pellet guns, $125 for rifles and shotguns, $200 for handguns, and $250 for assault rifles. The buybacks were funded predominantly by forfeiture dollars obtained by the local police departments and county prosecutors' offices, as well as forfeiture funds from the Division of Criminal Justice. For the event, law enforcement collaborated with community stakeholders, who promoted and assisted with the events. The guns collected at the buybacks were rendered inoperable by local police who staffed each event and will be melted down. "We are committed to doing everything in our power to reduce gun violence in New Jersey," said Lyndsay V. Ruotolo, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice. "We saw an outpouring of support from community members and leaders this past Saturday, and the latest results are proof positive that the gun buyback is a successful way for us to actively, collaboratively, and successfully participate in a united violence reduction effort." A breakdown of the firearms collected by county is as follows: Bergen County (Englewood) County Prosecutor Mark Musella Total guns: 248Assault rifles: 1Rifles/shotguns: 95Handguns: 119 Cumberland County (Bridgeton) County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McCrae Total guns: 391Assault rifles: 10Rifles/shotguns: 142Handguns: 168 Mercer County (Trenton) County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri Total guns: 194Assault rifles: 2Rifles/shotguns: 102Handguns: 58 Middlesex/Somerset Counties (Somerset) County Prosecutors Yolanda Ciccone & Michael H. Robertson Total guns: 621 Assault rifles: 2Rifles/shotguns: 274Handguns: 239 Monmouth County (Asbury Park) Acting County Prosecutor Lori Linskey Total guns: 360Assault rifles: 3Rifles/shotguns: 133Handguns: 159 Salem County (Carneys Point) Acting County Prosecutor Kristin J. Telsey Total guns: 223Assault rifles: 3Rifles/shotguns: 92Handguns: 86 Union County (Elizabeth, Plainfield, Westfield) County Prosecutor William A. Daniel Total guns: 520Assault rifles: 6Rifles/shotguns: 267Handguns: 247 Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email [email protected] Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.