POLICE. YOU COULD GET A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000. HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND. A CHANCE TO TRADE IN UNWANTED GUNS FOR CASH OR SPORTING EVENTS ARE ALYSSA MUNOZ HAS ALL THE DETAILS. ALISSA, GOOD MORNING TO YOU. YOU CAN GET QUITE A BIT OF CASH FOR TURNING OVER THESE GUNS. YES. GOOD MORNING. YOU CAN FIND THAT GUN BUYBACK EVENT WILL BE HAPPENING HERE AT APD’S UNIVERSITY SUBSTATION RIGHT BEHIND ME. HERE’S HOW IT WILL WORK. THEY’LL GIVE YOU $250 FOR ASSAULT WEAPONS, 200 FOR SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLES OR HANDGUNS, AND $100 FOR RIFLES OR SHOTGUNS. OVER THE YEARS, THEY’VE COLLECTED 4000 FIREARMS AND NEARLY 40% WERE SEMI-AUTOMATIC OR ASSAULT STYLE WEAPONS. THE GUNS ARE DESTROYED ON SITE, WITH SOME OF THAT MATERIAL BEING REPURPOSED BY YOUTH PROGRAMS INTO GARDENING TOOLS OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. A COMMANDER WITH APD SAYS THESE EVENTS HELP WITH PROPERTY AND TEEN CRIME, AND ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS SAYS MANY FAMILIES WORRY ABOUT THEIR GUNS GETTING INTO THE WRONG HANDS. WE’RE SEEING OUR CRIMINAL OFFENDERS DROP IN AGE FROM 18 TO 24, 20 YEARS AGO TO 13 TO 18. SO THESE KIDS, THEY FEEL THAT THEY GET SOCIAL RECOGNITION BY ARMING THEMSELVES AND THEN POSTING PHOTOGRAPHS ONLINE OR THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THEY USE THOSE GUNS AND GUN CRIMES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET RID OF THOSE FIREARMS. IT’S NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO HAVE THEM. THE EVENT WILL BE STARTING AT 9:00, AND ORGANIZERS SAY YOU SHOULD TRY TO COME EARLY, BECAUSE THEY DO TEND TO RUN OUT OF CASH. PEOPLE CAN ALSO GET TICKETS FOR ISOTOPES O
Albuquerque gun buyback event offers cash and sports tickets
The buyback program offers $250 for assault weapons, $200 for semiautomatic rifles and handguns, and $100 for rifles and shotguns
Albuquerque police will host a gun buyback event this weekend at the UNM substation, providing an opportunity to exchange unwanted firearms for cash and sports tickets. The event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, and organizers encourage attendees to arrive early, as cash supplies may run out. Participants will also receive tickets to Isotopes and New Mexico United games. The buyback program offers $250 for assault weapons, $200 for semiautomatic rifles and handguns, and $100 for rifles and shotguns. Over the years, the initiative has collected 4,000 firearms, with nearly 40% being semiautomatic or assault-style weapons. The collected guns are destroyed on-site, with some materials repurposed by youth programs into gardening tools or musical instruments. APD Commander Ray Del Greco said the events help address property and teen crime. “We’re seeing our criminal offenders drop in age from 18 to 24, 20 years ago to 13 to 18. So, these kids, they feel that they get social recognition by arming themselves and then posting photographs online or through social media. And they use those guns and gun crimes throughout the city,” Del Greco said. “Having a safe avenue for folks to be able to turn those firearms in and be provided a cash incentive from New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence is a win for everyone concerned.”Miranda Viscoli, the executive director of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, highlighted concerns many families have about firearm safety. “A lot of people don’t have the ability to get rid of those firearms, and it’s not safe for them to have them,” Viscoli said. “Grandparents, somebody with a teenage or suicidal ideation, a lot of widows whose husbands now have dementia, and we’re hunters.” The event will take place at APD’s University Substation, 1009 Bradbury Drive S.E., between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Albuquerque police will host a gun buyback event this weekend at the UNM substation, providing an opportunity to exchange unwanted firearms for cash and sports tickets.
The event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, and organizers encourage attendees to arrive early, as cash supplies may run out. Participants will also receive tickets to Isotopes and New Mexico United games.
The buyback program offers $250 for assault weapons, $200 for semiautomatic rifles and handguns, and $100 for rifles and shotguns. Over the years, the initiative has collected 4,000 firearms, with nearly 40% being semiautomatic or assault-style weapons.
The collected guns are destroyed on-site, with some materials repurposed by youth programs into gardening tools or musical instruments.
APD Commander Ray Del Greco said the events help address property and teen crime.
“We’re seeing our criminal offenders drop in age from 18 to 24, 20 years ago to 13 to 18. So, these kids, they feel that they get social recognition by arming themselves and then posting photographs online or through social media. And they use those guns and gun crimes throughout the city,” Del Greco said. “Having a safe avenue for folks to be able to turn those firearms in and be provided a cash incentive from New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence is a win for everyone concerned.”
Miranda Viscoli, the executive director of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, highlighted concerns many families have about firearm safety.
“A lot of people don’t have the ability to get rid of those firearms, and it’s not safe for them to have them,” Viscoli said. “Grandparents, somebody with a teenage or suicidal ideation, a lot of widows whose husbands now have dementia, and we’re hunters.”
The event will take place at APD’s University Substation, 1009 Bradbury Drive S.E., between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
