Norwalk Police To Host Gun Buyback, Safe Giveaway Event

Information via the city of Norwalk

NORWALK, CT — Mayor Harry Rilling announced this week the city will host its third annual #KeepKidsSafe Connecticut Statewide Gun Buyback and Gun Safe Giveaway Day event Saturday.

The Giveaway Day event will take place this at the Norwalk Police Department, located at 1 Monroe Street, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

According to a news release provided by the city, the voluntary gun buyback and safe firearm storage event offers gun owners the opportunity to safely remove their unwanted weapons from their homes and the community in exchange for gift cards. This event aims to promote gun safety and safe firearm storage.

For gun owners who want to keep their guns but seek a responsible way to better secure their weapons, a limited supply of pin code gun safes will be provided free of charge to those with a valid gun permit, according to the city.

"We encourage folks to come to the City of Norwalk’s Gun Buyback and Gun Safe Giveaway Day to bring their unwanted guns in exchange for a gift card, " Rilling said in a news release. “This is an easy way to help reduce the number of guns in our community that could potentially do harm to a loved one or innocent child. As a city, the safety and well-being of our residents is our top concern. For the benefit of the community, we believe it’s important to work together to remove unwanted weapons safely from people’s homes while promoting gun safety and safe firearm storage practices."

According to the city, the gun buyback and gun safe giveaway events are 100% anonymous. Therefore, IDs are not required and no questions will be asked. Gift cards will be provided to individuals who turn in an operable firearm.

"The Norwalk Police Department values the partnership with the Newtown Action Alliance, the Wilton Quaker Organization, and Stew Leonard's in providing funding and spearheading the Gun Buyback at the Norwalk Police Department," Police Chief James Walsh said in a news release. "This event gives the residents an opportunity to surrender unwanted firearms and rifles. Whenever a firearm is turned over for destruction, it eliminates the potential of any harm it may cause and increases overall public safety."

According to the city, those interested in participating should be aware that:

• Guns must be transported in the trunk of the car and any ammunition must be delivered in a separate bag.
• Non-operable guns, BB guns, and ammunition are welcome, but no gift cards will be exchanged for these items.
• $25 gift cards will be provided for single and double (Derringer-style) handguns and any type of black powder guns.
• $50 gift cards will be provided for rifles and shotguns (no newly sawed-off shotguns).
• $100 gift cards will be provided for pistol and revolver handguns.
• $200 gift cards will be provided for assault weapons (per CT summary of gun laws and as determined by officers).

The buyback initiative was made possible through a partnership with the Newtown Action Alliance, the Wilton Quaker Organization and Stew Leonard's, according to the city.

The Keep Kids Safe campaign was established in 2019 by the Newtown Action Alliance Foundation and the Ethan Miller Song Foundation as an educational program for parents, educators and healthcare professionals to reduce unintentional shootings among children and childhood gun suicides and homicides in America, to provide gun safes to gun owners and promote community gun buyback opportunities, according to the city.