Exchange Guns For Grocery Money In Cambridge: 4th Annual Event

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Cambridge’s interfaith-based organizations, non-profit community and regional partners, are hosting their 4th annual citywide Gun Buy-Back program Saturday, June 9 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. And they're giving out grocery gift cards for anyone who turns a gun in.

This public health and public safety event will provide residents with an opportunity to anonymously and safely dispose of their unwanted firearms and, in turn, reduce the potential for an accidental discharge or wrongdoing in a home.

In the past three years, Cambridge alone has collected 122 guns, including an assault rifle and a loaded handgun. More than 800 guns have been collected in nearly a dozen Middlesex County cities and towns in the past five years.

The Pentecostal Tabernacle will provide a safe, convenient location for participants to drop off unwanted guns with no questions asked and no ID required.

As an incentive to participate, residents will be awarded gift cards for each firearm they turn into public safety officers on the day of the event. The values range depending on the firearm type:

$200 gift card Assault Weapon
$100 gift card Revolver, Handgun, Semi-Automatic, Shotgun, Rifle
$50 gift card BB Gun, Pellet Gun, Ammunition

Children who turn in any toy guns will be eligible to receive a $5 ice cream gift card to Toscanini’s Ice Cream.

Where? Pentecostal Tabernacle: 77 Columbia Street (near Central Square)Drop off: Church parking lot

Cambridge Police and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will be handling the guns turned in, and the State Police will destroy the guns. Cambridge Police will be available to pick-up firearms at a Cambridge residence, if folks are not able or have concerns about physically dropping off unwanted firearms.

To schedule a pickup, please call 617-349-3300.

For more information on Cambridge’s Gift Cards for Guns, please visit camb.ma/GiftCardsforGuns. If you or your organization is interested in becoming involved in the event (e.g. donate gift cards, volunteer at the event or help post flyers in advance of the event), please e-mail lori@manyhelpinghands365.org.

Photo courtesy Cambridge Police