The Rockville City Police Department (RCPD), in partnership with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and Montgomery County Public Schools, will hold a “gun buyback” event from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, (rain or shine) at RedGate Park in Rockville. The event is open to all and no ID is required. Gift cards of $100 or $200 will be presented to participants for functioning weapons, depending upon the type of weapon brought for exchange.
RedGate Park is located at 14500 Avery Road in Rockville. More than 300 firearms were voluntarily turned in by members of the community during a similar event last August.
Community members will be able to voluntarily turn in their firearms and receive a $100 Visa gift card for functioning handguns, rifles and shotguns or $200 in Visa gift cards for functioning assault-style weapons and privately manufactured firearms (ghost guns). All firearms will be accepted with no identification needed and a no-questions-asked policy by law enforcement. RCPD will maintain the ultimate determination on the eligible firearms for gift card issuance.
Participants must remain in their vehicle at all times. Firearms must be unloaded and transported in the trunk. No ammunition in guns is allowed. No walk-ups will be allowed.
For the issuance of the gift card, weapons must be functional. The event organizers reserve the right to limit the number of gift cards given to an individual, regardless of the number of weapons surrendered.
Non-functioning firearms and ammunition will be accepted with no exchange of compensation.
Gift card quantities are limited and subject to availability.
Every gun turned in is one less gun that could be used in a serious crime, suicide or domestic violence incident or accidentally discharged by a child. Keeping guns off community streets, out of the hands of youth and in schools remains the highest priority for all.
Gun buyback event details:
- What categorizes as a functioning or non-functioning firearm, rifle, shotgun, handgun and fully automatic rifle? An unserviceable firearm is a firearm that is incapable of discharging a shot by the action of an explosive and is incapable of being readily restored to a firing condition. A rifle is a gun, especially one fired from shoulder level, having a long spirally grooved barrel. A shotgun is a long-barreled firearm designed to shoot a straight-walled cartridge known as a shotshell, which usually discharges numerous small pellet-like spherical sub-projectiles called shot, or sometimes a single solid projectile called a slug. A fully automatic firearm an auto-loading firearm that continuously chambers and fires rounds when the trigger mechanism is actuated.
- Does the firearm need to be functioning to participate? Yes. To receive a $100 or $200 gift card, the firearm must be in functioning operation and it will be checked on-site. Non-functioning firearms may be returned. However, they are not eligible for a gift card.
- Can I turn in more than one firearm? Yes. You can turn in several firearms. However, the event organizers reserve the right to limit the number of gift cards given to an individual, regardless of the number of weapons surrendered.
- Can I have someone else drop off my firearm(s)? Yes. However, the gift card(s) will be handed over to the person who turned in the firearm.
- How long is the VISA/Mastercard gift card activated for? Each gift card will be active for 12 months.
- Will I need to show my ID? No identification or Government ID will be needed to participate.
- Do I need to be a City of Rockville resident to participate? No ID is required, so residency will not be checked.
- Does my immigration status affect my ability to participate? No.
- What happens to the firearms after they are collected? They will then be destroyed.
- Will I be able to participate by turning in my ammunition? Yes. You will be able to turn in unwanted ammunition. However, no monetary value will be given as the gift cards only apply to firearms. Ammunition can be turned into the police department at any time not just during the Gun Buyback.
