Gilroy Shooting Fallout: Watsonville Police Promote Gun Buyback

WATSONVILLE, CA — The Watsonville Police Department is encouraging residents to stop by a Gilroy gun buyback event on Saturday, Dec. 14. Handguns, rifles and shotguns go for $100, and assault weapons go for $200. No questions asked about where the guns came from or who they belong to, but there is a limit of five guns per person, according to the City of Gilroy.

The buyback is a good option for those looking to bring in extra cash around the holidays, Watsonville Police said.

Guns can be exchanged at the City of Gilroy Corporation Yard (613 Old Gilroy St.) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office is partnering with police in Gilroy, Morgan Hill and others for the $50,000 event. It's the first gun buyback in the south county area in 25 years, according to the city.

The buyback comes less than three months after the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting that left three people dead and 17 people wounded.

Gilroy Mayor Roland Velasco said in a press release that the buyback was hosted due to recent acts of violence.

“This event is an opportunity for residents to be involved in preserving the safety of our community by disposing of inherited or unwanted firearms in a safe and responsible manner and thereby preventing these firearms from ending up in the wrong hands," he said.