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Gun Amnesty Program Set for December 15
New Gun Amnesty Announced!
Saturday, December 29, 2007, 8 am to 4 pm
NO IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED. NO GUN DEALERS. ONLY WEAPONS IN WORKING ORDER WILL BE ACCEPTED.
The Gun Amnesty Program is an opportunity for people to turn in their weapons to authorities—no questions asked. The program is open only to residents of the District of Columbia or one of the following jurisdictions: Prince George’s County; Montgomery County; Arlington County; or Alexandria. No payments will be made to gun dealers; if gun dealers bring in weapons, they will be taken, but no payments will be provided. No identification will be required to participate. Only weapons in working order will receive payment. Those turning in weapons are granted amnesty from any gun possession charges that might apply.
Three Locations:
Download a flier* about this program.
Background on Gun Amnesty Programs
As part of its commitment to reducing gun violence in DC, the MPDC has implemented a number of different strategies, including periodic gun buy-backs. Gun buy-backs allow individuals to turn in unwanted firearms to the police with no questions asked. They are granted amnesty from any gun possession charges that might apply, and—as an added incentive—receive payment for each gun.
After the weapons are collected and catalogued, the MPDC's Firearms and Tool Mark Examination Section test-fires them and gathers ballistics evidence about each weapon. The MPDC works with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to trace the weapons and track their involvement with previously unsolved crimes. The ATF also conducts an analysis of all weapons to give police officials a better understanding of gun possession and trafficking patterns. After they have been test-fired and analyzed, all the weapons accumulated during gun buy-backs in DC are melted down and destroyed at an area foundry.
Between August 1999 and December 2000, the MPDC conducted three separate gun buy-backs. During these buy-backs, the MPDC collected 6,253 firearms and paid out a total of approximately $528,000. Past gun buy-backs have been jointly funded by the District of Columbia and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Because of budgetary constraints, gun buy-backs are no longer conducted on a regular basis. However, individuals who want to voluntarily turn in a firearm, with no questions asked, may do so at any time by contacting the MPDC or visiting a district station.
More information about previous MPDC gun buy-backs is available at the following:
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