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APD, community partners to hold Saturday gun buyback event
One of hundreds of guns brought to a buyback held at Expo New Mexico
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The Albuquerque Police Department is partnering with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, the Albuquerque Isotopes, New Mexico United and University of New Mexico Athletics for a gun buyback event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 24, at APD’s University Substation, 1009 Bradbury SE.
The “safe surrender event” is being facilitated by New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence and no information will be retained on any person turning in a firearm. People can turn in as many guns as they like, but the firearms must be unloaded and in working condition.
APD is also asking that all guns be placed in the trunk of your vehicle.
This is the 24th gun buyback event New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence has facilitated since it launched its buyback program in 2016, according to a statement from the city. Since the program began, it has removed more than 2,500 firearms from New Mexico’s communities, close to 40% of which were semi-automatic and assault-style weapons, the statement said.
New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence will pay cash in exchange for firearms — $250 for an assault weapon, $200 for a semi-automatic handgun or rifle and $100 for revolvers, pistols or a long gun. Free gun locks will also be provided to gun owners.
The nonprofit is funding the event through donations the organization has received. Some $20,000 will be paid out for buybacks over the course of the event on a first-come, first-served basis. In the event cash runs out, gift cards to retailers such as Amazon and Target will be handed out.
During the event, representatives from the Lobos, United and Isotopes will be meeting with community members. Lobos and Isotopes officials will hand out free tickets for future games.
“It takes a community coming together to prevent gun violence,” APD Chief Harold Medina said in a news release. “We hope this provides a safe outlet for people to get rid of firearms they no longer want or have use for, to prevent them from getting into the wrong hands.”
The guns turned in will be dismantled on site, and the scrap metal will be forged into gardening tools, musical instruments and art pieces by high school students from the RFK Charter School through the nonprofit Southwest Educational Partners and Training program.
