Police collect nearly 300 guns in Rockville gun buyback event

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. ( DC News Now ) — The Rockville City Police Department (RCPD) collected nearly 300 guns on Saturday at their 3rd annual gun buyback event at Redgate Park.

The event , hosted by RCPD and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, allows people to voluntarily surrender their firearms for Visa gift cards. The goal of the buyback is to increase public safety, according to RCPD.

Those who turned in functioning handguns, rifles and shotguns received a $100 gift card, and those who turned in functioning assault-style weapons and privately manufactured items (ghost guns) received a $200 gift card.

According to a social media post from the RCPD, the department collected around 270 firearms during the event, and people arrived over an hour before its kickoff. All of the firearms collected will be inventoried and destroyed by Monday.

Members of the Rockville City Council, police staff and Deputy State’s Attorney Peter Feeny were in attendance.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.