32 Firearms Turned In At Evanston Gun Buyback

EVANSTON, IL — Police announced 32 guns were brought in to a gun buyback event Saturday at Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Evanston. The buyback brought in 26 handguns and six long guns at $100 apiece. The unwanted firearms are not longer at risk of misuse or entering the criminal market, police said.

Police thanked all the citizens who turned in their guns and said community cooperation made the event a success. The $3,200 in cash that funded the event was provided by an anonymous donor. The buyback was organized by the Evanston P.D.'s Problem Solving Team, according to a release.

Police recognized the contributions of Reverend Kenneth Cherry of Christ Temple Church (pictured above) for hosting the event, along with the efforts of Traci Kurtzer (pictured below), Nina Kavin of Moms Demand Action and Carolyn Murray.

Former Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and the Evanston Community Foundation raised funds to establish the Evanston's first gun buyback following the 2012 murders of Dajae Coleman and Javar Bamberg.

"We have too many guns in this community," Tisdahl said at the time. "We must work together to get guns off the street through buy-back programs and other means until local jurisdictions have the authority to enact real gun control legislation."

The first event, organized with Moms Demand Action of Evanston, brought in 45 firearms – 26 handguns, 15 rifles and four shotguns – in December 2012. Chief Richard Eddington noted taking unsecured guns out of circulation would help prevent the risk of accidental shootings and stolen guns.

"If you're in the house for a minute, these are extremely valuable items to criminals," Eddington said.

Another Evanston Gun Buyback Fund event held the following June brought in 28 guns, including 19 handguns, five rifles and four more shotguns.

Evanston police now allow any resident to turn in a firearm as part of an ongoing gun buyback program by calling 311 and allowing police to contact you to arrange a time for a pickup of an unwanted firearm.

Guns should not be brought to the police department. An officer will pick up unwanted operational firearms from homes in exchange for a voucher which can later be exchanged for $100, police said. The guns are inventoried and photographed before being destroyed.

32 guns taken in today at EPD Gun Buyback pic.twitter.com/QNFKOeMxZ8
— Evanston, IL Police (@EvanstonPD) June 9, 2018