NJ Congressman Wants To Carve Out $360M For Gun Buyback Programs

NEW JERSEY — A congressman from New Jersey wants to pay firearm owners more than their guns are worth – up to 25 percent more – as part of a guns-for-debit cards buyback proposal.

Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. reintroduced a proposed federal law, H.R. 1361, which he has dubbed “the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2023.” If it becomes law, the bill would provide federal grants to local communities to buy back guns from their owners.

According to a statement from the congressman’s office:

“Rep. Payne, Jr.’s bill provides the U.S. Department of Justice a two-year, $360 million grant to exchange smart debit cards for firearms. The exchanges would happen through local gun dealers and the debit cards would be worth the market value of their firearm plus an additional 25 percent of the gun’s value. Market value would be based on the condition, age and model of the firearm. Most of the guns recovered through the exchanges would be recycled.”

Payne – a Democrat who represents the state’s 10th district – said that gun buyback programs have been working in cities such as Newark and East Orange, which he represents. Read More: 'Gun Buyback Day' Is A Big Success In Essex County, Officials Say

The recently redrawn district also includes Caldwell, Essex Fells, Irvington, Montclair (part), Orange, Verona and West Orange in Essex County; Jersey City in Hudson County; and Cranford, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden (part), Roselle, Roselle Park and Union Township in Union County.

Gun violence continues to be a significant problem across the country. Nationwide, almost 7,000 Americans and close to 300 children and teens have died from gun violence this year, Payne said.

“There is no gun violence without guns,” the congressman said. “My bill gives people a reason to sell their guns to create safer neighborhoods for neighborhood families and children.”

“Gun buyback programs have worked at the state and local level to reduce gun violence already,” Payne added. “Now, we need a national program to give all towns and cities the funds necessary to get guns off their streets.”

Send news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.