HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Anti-gun violence advocates, health professionals and leaders were at the state capitol Wednesday morning, gearing up for this weekend’s 4th annual #KeepKidsSafe statewide gun buyback.
It’s a chance for people to get a gift in exchange for their guns to keep the community safe.
“We want to make sure that we get to those moms and those families to safely understand how important it is to put their guns away,” said Deborah Davis with Mothers United Against Violence.
Cali Taylor with the Jr. Newtown Action Alliance says trading in your gun could save someone’s life. Her mom, a teacher, was a survivor of the devastating Sandy Hook school shooting.
“While I was not in the school that day, it has continued to impact my life,” Taylor said. “My fear served as a constant reminder that school was not a safe place and any family could become impacted by gun violence.”
Kristen Song lost her 15-year-old son Ethan in January 2018 after he accidentally shot himself with an unsecured gun at a friend’s house. Through the Ethan Miller Song Foundation, she continues highlighting the urgency of safe gun storage.
“I am a broken mother,” she said. “My family has been shattered. This is my reality every day and every night, to think all this pain and suffering could have been prevented in seconds.”
Last year, Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Conn.) signed House Bill 6667, which carries harsher penalties for those who fail to store firearms safely. That’s why over 350 biometric gun safes will be handed out over the weekend.
“When homes have guns that are not safely stored, there’s a 50% higher chance of someone in that household being hurt,” Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz (D-Conn.) said.
Those looking to get rid of their firearms can do so on Sat., Oct. 5, at the police departments listed below.
- Bridgeport PD: 1395 Sylvan Ave.
- Guilford PD: 400 Church St.
- Hartford PD: 253 High St.
- Newtown PD: 191 South Main St.
- Norwalk PD: 1 Monroe St.
- Stamford PD: 725 Bedford St.
- Waterbury: Trinity Health – 15 West Dover St.
In addition, police departments in Bridgeport, Chesire, Danbury, New Haven, Plainfield and Waterford will have free gun safes.
You can get $200 worth of gift cards for an assault weapon, $100 for pistols and revolvers, $50 for rifles and shotguns and $25 for single- and double-shot handguns.
“Our position has always been that gun buyback programs are largely ineffective in reducing crime,” said Mark Oliva, the managing director of public affairs of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
At last year’s event, the state collected nearly 1,200 guns and 23 assault weapons.
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