Montgomery County Police Hosting Gun Take Back Events

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Authorities in Montgomery County are hosting two free, gun collection events in September as part of "Operation Safe Homes." Operation Safe Homes is a public service to help people get rid of unwanted guns.

District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Montgomery County police chiefs announced the events will be held Wednesday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 21 at eight police departments throughout Montgomery County.

There is no payment for the guns. All unloaded firearms will be accepted, and all collected firearms will be destroyed. No bullets, magazines or clips will be accepted.

"In the wake of last week’s shooting of six Philadelphia Police Officers and other gun violence across the country, discussions abound about guns on the street and in American households. Calls are increasing for some type of action," Steele said. "We in Montgomery County are taking action. We are again holding ‘Operation Safe Homes events where gun owners can drop off any type of unwanted firearm for safe disposal. Last year, we collected 107 unwanted guns of a variety of types. Residents were profuse in thanking us for holding this event.

"But let me be very clear: we are not taking guns away from anyone," he continued. "This is a community service to any gun-owning resident who has decided to get guns out of their house and permanently off the street. It doesn’t matter what type of firearm—from long guns to pistols, we’ll take them and melt them down."

Guns will be accepted 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at one of eight police departments in Montgomery County serving as "Operation Safe Homes" drop-off locations.

The locations are:

• Abington Township Police Department, 1166 Old York Road, Abington;
• Jenkintown Borough Police Department, 700 Summit Avenue;
• Lansdale Borough Police Department, One Vine Street, Lansdale;
• Lower Merion Township Police Department, 71 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore;
• Lower Salford Township Police Department, 379 Main Street, Harleysville;
• Pottstown Borough Police Department, 100 E. High Street, Pottstown;
• Upper Merion Township Police Department, 175 W. Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia;
• Whitpain Township Police Department, 960 Wentz Road, Blue Bell.

Americans have more guns than any country in the world, and recent studies have shown that 13 million households have both young children and a gun. In 2017 in the United States, 2,462 school-age children were killed by firearms, which is almost seven children a day. Of those deaths involving firearms, the causes included accidental deaths, assaults and suicide.

“Many people have both guns and children or grandchildren in their homes and are uncomfortable with that fact," Steele said. "We are making it easy to get rid of unwanted guns and make sure they are destroyed rather than being sold on"

For questions about the "Operation Safe Home" event, call the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at (610) 278-3368 or any of the eight participating police departments.