Santa Fe to Host Gun Buyback Saturday

The city of Santa Fe is sponsoring the first of three gun buyback sessions this Saturday at Santa Fe Police Department headquarters.

Santa Feans can exchange unwanted firearms for Visa gift cards worth $100 for a long gun such as a rifle or shotgun, $150 for a handgun and $200 for a high-capacity or assault weapon. All guns must be operational.

The city will also accept other types of weapons, including non-operational guns and imitation or low-powered air weapons that look similar to real weapons, a city press release said. No money will be offered for those items.

No identification is required to participate in the buyback.

All firearms collected will be destroyed, city officials said.

The goal is to provide a safe way for people to get rid of unwanted firearms and keep the weapons from ending up in the hands of criminals, according to the press release.

“We have seen too many tragedies hit communities across this country not to take every possible action to reduce gun violence,” Mayor David Coss said in a statement.

“I am committed to working with state and federal lawmakers to find solutions and to implement anything we can at the city level,” Coss said.

Wells Fargo isn’t charging  fees for the Visa gift cards.

Cities around the country have sponsored gun buybacks following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults. More than 40 weapons were turned in during a session hosted Saturday by the Albuquerque Police Department.

However, some question the programs’ efficacy. Mother Jones magazine published an interesting take today at motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/gun-buyback-charts.

Santa Feans can turn in their guns at the Santa Fe Police Department headquarters at 2515 Camino Entrada on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; February 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m; and March 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.