South San Francisco, CA November 16, 2021 Press Release
Supervisors Pine and Horsley Champion $370,000 Effort to Reduce Gun Violence
Today, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved a grant of up to $208,000 in Measure K Reserves to establish a San Mateo County Gun Buyback Program.
The funding will support a series of gun buyback events through 2023. The program will be supported by an additional $100,000 from the Sheriff’s Office and $67,000 raised by Citizens for a San Mateo County Gun Buyback, a local community group.
The first of five planned events will be held on December 11, 2021.
“Gun violence remains an ever-present danger in our communities,” said Supervisor Dave Pine. “By taking guns out of circulation, coupled with strong local safety policies, we can continue to reduce the prevalence and availability of guns.”
At the gun buybacks, individuals will be able turn in firearms to law enforcement, with no questions asked, and receive $100 per handgun/shotgun/rifle and $200 per assault weapon.
Recipients can choose to keep the cash incentive or donate it to selected nonprofit organizations. The event will provide an opportunity for the safe disposal of unwanted or unsecured firearms, especially by gun owners who would not otherwise know how to do so.
“A strong gun buyback program will help to ensure that guns don’t end up in the wrong hands,” said Supervisor Don Horsley. “Two thirds of gun deaths in our country are suicides. By creating an avenue to turn in unwanted firearms we can work to prevent future loss of life.”
The County of San Mateo hosted three such successful events in 2018-2019, yielding a total of 1,254 firearms collected.
In addition to removing firearms from the community, gun buyback events also provide an opportunity to educate the public about safe firearm storage and other gun safety protocols for the home, and to distribute free gun locks.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office will oversee the buyback events.
“The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is excited to partner with the Board of Supervisors and Citizens for a San Mateo County Gun Buyback in removing unwanted firearms from our communities,” said San Mateo County Sheriff Carlos Bolanos. “Gun violence reduction is a major component of public safety and by taking these weapons out of circulation, we will continue to keep San Mateo County a safe place to live, work, and play.”
The link to the staff report can be found here.