ROCKVILLE, Md. — Rockville Police are partnering with the Montgomery County State's Attorney to host a gun buyback event this upcoming weekend.
On Saturday, Aug. 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, officials will take back any handguns or shotguns a person wishes to turn in, at the third annual buyback. The event is being held at RedGate Park located at 14500 Avery Road, in Rockville.
Community members can turn in their firearms and receive a $100 Visa gift card for any functioning handguns, rifles, and shotguns and a $200 Visa gift card for assault-style weapons and ghost guns.
Chief Victor Brito says ghost gun firearms can be particularly problematic for law enforcement, because it’s hard to track their origin without serial numbers, so it’s important to get them off the streets.
"2020, 2021, 2022, we saw an increase ... in those unserialized guns, and that has come down," Brito said.
Firearms will be accepted with no ID or background checks needed and a no-questions-asked policy by police. Anyone who wishes to turn in their firearm must stay in their car at all times.
All guns must be unloaded and transported in the trunk. Police will not accept any gun that has ammunition loaded inside. Walk-ups are also not accepted. All weapons must be functioning in order to qualify for a gift card.
Last year, Rockville Police collected 300 guns during the buyback.
Brito says he appreciates the community’s reception to the annual event, and if just one gun they take in prevents a tragedy, it’s a good day.
“We’ve all seen those horrible stories where a young person finds a firearm, they think it’s a toy, and then we have a tragedy," the chief said. "I can’t do that. I don't ever want to be on another scene like that.”
Once the firearms are collected they will be destroyed within 48 hours.