Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday that more than a hundred firearms, including six assault weapons were surrendered during a gun buyback initiative in East Elmhurst on Saturday, May 16.
Photo courtesy of the DA’s office
More than 100 guns, including assault weapons, were taken off the streets during a gun buyback event on Saturday, May 16, at the Southern Baptist Church in East Elmhurst, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Tuesday. The weapons were exchanged for bank cards loaded with cash and the program was completely anonymous, with no identification required and no questions asked.
“Gun buyback initiatives remain an important strategy in our efforts to reduce gun violence and strengthen public safety across our communities,” Katz said. “This Saturday, working with the NYPD. State Attorney General Letitia James and Pastor Michael V. Johnson, we collected 108 surrendered firearms, including six automatic weapons.”
Surrendered firearms included 53 pistols; 31 revolvers; a half-dozen rifles; four derringers; three shotguns; one ghost gun, the half dozen assault weapons; and four others, including BB guns and imitation guns.
“Every one of the guns collected this weekend is a step in the right direction toward a safer community for everyone, especially our children,” James said. “I thank District Attorney Katz and our partners in local government for their commitment to protecting New York families. Together, we will continue to empower community members to be a part of the solution against gun violence and help remove unwanted guns off our streets and out of our communities.”
Operable handguns and assault weapons were exchanged for a $500 bank card while the community member who turned in the ghost gun received a $200 bank card. The people who surrendered rifles and shotguns for $75 bank cards while those turning in the BB guns and air pistols received a $25 bank card. The East Elmhurst gun buyback initiative served as the 13th such event of Katz’s administration and marked one of the largest collections of guns to date. A total of 849 firearms has been recovered during the thirteen gun buyback events since 2020.
“Each firearm removed from our streets represents a step toward safer neighborhoods and fewer opportunities for violence,” Katz said. “I’m grateful to our partners and to the residents who participated in another successful program.”