What guns are eligible for compensation in Columbus’ buyback?

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Columbus is hosting a gun buyback where citizens can anonymously trade in firearms in exchange for cash gift cards of up to $750, but not all firearms qualify for payment.

Columbus police and the Office of Violence Prevention, or OVP, are partnering for the event. The city said it is accepting rifles, assault rifles, handguns and shotguns in exchange for a cash gift card. It is also accepting non-working, antique and 3D guns, but there is no cash incentive for these firearms.

Columbus police said they found dozens of untraceable, homemade firearms in 2023 , including 75 illegal Glock switches, which convert some handguns into fully automatic weapons. Police said individual gun parts and entire firearms made through 3D printing have been documented.

3D-printed guns fall under the “ghost gun” category, or guns without an identifying serial number. Metal and polymer guns assembled through at home kits also fall under this umbrella.

“We will absolutely accept ghost guns or 3D printed guns, but we are not offering gift cards for those,” India Duke, public information officer for the OVP, said. “We do not want to incentivize individuals to create firearms just to get the cash gift cards.”

The program is anonymous, so anyone turning in firearms will not be identifiable, allowing anyone with these guns to turn them in safely and get them off the street.

Participants should arrive with the gun or guns placed in their vehicle’s trunk inside of a box or bag. Guns must not be loaded. The gift cards are first-come, first-serve, and OVP said it is prepared with over $100,000 of cash gift cards. The event starts at 10 a.m. in Phillips Hall parking lot D at Franklin University, and will go until the gift cards run out. They will also distribute gun locks and other safety-related giveaways, OVP said.

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