Nearly 200 Firearms Collected During SMC Gun Buyback: Police

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Community members turned in 198 firearms during an anonymous gun buyback event hosted Saturday by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and partner agencies.

According to the sheriff's office, the firearms collected included four assault weapons and three ghost guns. Participants also turned in ammunition, which will be safely disposed of, police said.

Community members remained anonymous and received between $50 and $200 per firearm.

The Sheriff's Office said all firearms collected during the event are being processed and will be destroyed.

Since the Sheriff's Office began hosting gun buyback events in 2018, more than 3,000 firearms have been collected and safely destroyed, officials said.

Participating agencies included the Brisbane, Broadmoor, Daly City, San Bruno and South San Francisco police departments. Volunteers from Citizens for a San Mateo County Gun Buyback also distributed free gun locks during the event.

The buyback was funded by the County of San Mateo and the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors through Measure K, a voter-approved half-cent sales tax.

The Sheriff's Office said it plans to host another anonymous gun buyback in the coming months.