Gun Turn-In Event At Main Line Police Department Sept 12

A Main Line police department is hoping to limit "family fire" accidental shootings by hosting two community gun turn-in events this week.

Lower Merion Township Police are joining five other Montgomery County police departments in the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office gun turn-in events as part of "Operation Safe Home" on Sept. 12 and Sept. 15.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele is partnering with Lower Merion, Upper Merion, Abington, Pottstown, Whitpain, and Lower Salford police departments to host the Operation Safe Home events from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 at each respective police department.

The events are open to the public, not just Montgomery County residents.

Each department will be accepting all types of unloaded firearms; handguns, rifles, and shotguns.

All firearms collected will be melted down and destroyed.

Bullets and magazines/clips will not be accepted at the events.

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

Steel said accidental shootings in family homes are often called "family fire," and that a new ad campaign recently launched to raise awareness of "family fire" and how it can be prevented.

For more information, call the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at (610) 278-3368 or any participating police department.

Watch a "family fire" PSA below.

Image via Shutterstock