Somerset County Collects 621 Guns During Massive NJ Buyback Event

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — A total of 621 guns were collected in Somerset during what authorities called "New Jersey's largest-ever single-day gun buyback" event last weekend.

In all, nearly 3,000 firearms were collected at gun buyback events held at 10 locations in Bergen, Camden, Cumberland, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Salem, Somerset, and Union counties, according to officials.

Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck made the announcement with county prosecutors and law enforcement leaders from participating locations during a news conference at the Nation Guard Armory in Lawrenceville on Thursday.

The "Guns for Cash" events in Englewood, Camden, Bridgeton, Trenton, Somerset, Asbury Park, Carneys Point, Elizabeth, Plainfield, and Westfield yielded 2,806 firearms.

The guns collected at the 10 locations included 1,196 handguns, 1,206 rifles/shotguns, and 29 assault rifles.

In Somerset, 239 handguns, 274 rifles/shotguns and two assault rifles were collected, according to authorities.

"We welcome the opportunity to participate in the gun buyback program with our law enforcement partners throughout the State," said Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson. "Reducing the amount of firearms that could potentially cause violence in our communities is a top priority for all of us and we will continue to participate in initiatives that make our neighborhoods safer."

New Jersey residents were invited to turn in up to three firearms of any type "no questions asked," and could earn up to $750. Under standardized pricing set for the buybacks, gun owners were paid $25 for inoperable firearms and BB/pellet guns, $125 for rifles and shotguns, $200 for handguns, and $250 for assault rifles.

The buybacks were funded predominantly by forfeiture dollars obtained by the local police departments and county prosecutors' offices, as well as forfeiture funds from the Division of Criminal Justice.

Each of the gun buybacks represented a collaboration between law enforcement and community stakeholders, who promoted and assisted with the events.

The nearly 3,000 guns collected at the buybacks were rendered inoperable by local police who staffed each event, and will be melted down.

"We are committed to doing everything in our power to reduce gun violence in New Jersey," said Lyndsay V. Ruotolo, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice. "We saw an outpouring of support from community members and leaders this past Saturday, and the latest results are proof positive that the gun buyback is a successful way for us to actively, collaboratively, and successfully participate in a united violence reduction effort."

A breakdown of the firearms collected by county is as follows:

Bergen County (Englewood)
County Prosecutor Mark Musella
Total guns: 248
Assault rifles: 1
Rifles/shotguns: 95
Handguns: 119

Cumberland County (Bridgeton)
County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McCrae
Total guns: 391
Assault rifles: 10
Rifles/shotguns: 142
Handguns: 168

Mercer County (Trenton)
County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri
Total guns: 194
Assault rifles: 2
Rifles/shotguns: 102
Handguns: 58

Middlesex/Somerset Counties (Somerset)
County Prosecutors Yolanda Ciccone & Michael H. Robertson
Total guns: 621
Assault rifles: 2
Rifles/shotguns: 274
Handguns: 239

Monmouth County (Asbury Park)
Acting County Prosecutor Lori Linskey
Total guns: 360
Assault rifles: 3
Rifles/shotguns: 133
Handguns: 159

Salem County (Carneys Point)
Acting County Prosecutor Kristin J. Telsey
Total guns: 223
Assault rifles: 3
Rifles/shotguns: 92
Handguns: 86

Union County (Elizabeth, Plainfield, Westfield)
County Prosecutor William A. Daniel
Total guns: 520
Assault rifles: 6
Rifles/shotguns: 267
Handguns: 247

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.