Manhattan D.A. Bragg Hosts Gun Buyback, Offers Up to $1,500 in Gift Cards

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg will host a gun buyback event on June 13 at the Upper West Side’s Central Baptist Church, offering New Yorkers the opportunity to surrender firearms in exchange for prepaid gift cards, no questions asked.

The event, held in partnership with the New York Police Department (NYPD), is part of a broader set of summer gun violence prevention initiatives that Bragg has continued into his second term.

Key DetailsDate: Friday, June 13Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.Location: Central Baptist Church, Upper West Side, ManhattanPartnership: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the NYPDTerms of Exchange: Prepaid gift cards, up to $1,500 per participant; payment issued after inspection by a department specialist; limited to a maximum of three firearms per participantCompensation Rates: $500 per operable handgun or assault rifle; $200 per 3D-printed ghost gun (max 2); $75 per operable rifle or shotgun; $25 per non-operable or imitation firearm (must be placed in a bag or box)Eligibility: Open to any New Yorker with firearms to surrender; no questions askedBragg’s Approach to Gun Violence Prevention

The buyback is one component of a multi-pronged strategy under Bragg’s office that includes community grants and youth engagement programs. According to Bragg’s office, shootings in Manhattan have declined by approximately 60% since he took office in January 2022.

“Combating gun violence requires more than prosecution, it demands community investment, partnerships, and meaningful engagement to build trust and improve public safety. Our comprehensive approach, including gun buybacks, making a real impact in Manhattan, with a 60% decline in shootings [as of late May] since I took office. Gun buybacks are a critical violence prevention strategy that safely removes firearms from our communities before they can be used in a tragedy. Every gun turned in reduces the risk of a potential act of violence or accidental shooting, and I encourage New Yorkers with firearms to turn them in on June 13.”

— Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg, in an emailed statement

Community Grants Target Youth During Summer Months

Alongside the buyback, Bragg’s office recently announced a new round of grants for community-based organizations aimed at keeping youth engaged during what officials and public health researchers have consistently identified as the most violent months of the year.

Grant recipients this year include Harlem-based organizations Jackie Rowe-Adams’s Harlem Mothers & Fathers S.A.V.E. and the Living Redemption Community Development Corporation.

The gun violence prevention grant program dates to Bragg’s first year in office and directs funding to nonprofits operating in areas where shootings have historically been more frequent.

I commend District Attorney Alvin Bragg and all of the community-based organizations receiving this support for continuing to do the difficult and necessary work of reaching our young people before violence reaches them.”

— New York State Assemblymember Al Taylor, in a statement