Kingston Community Gun Buyback Nets 60 Guns

By Miranda Reale

KINGSTON – When hunting for a gun to buy, fix, or customize, one has more than a handful of options of stores to try in and around Kingston. Within a twenty mile radius, there are at least ten firearm and ammo shops, making them easy enough to purchase; but what about the option to sell or simply get rid of a firearm? New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office in collaboration with the Kingston Police Department and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, hosted an in-person gun buyback event last Saturday, April 30.

Offering prepaid gift cards on-site for unloaded weapons, many gun owners took this opportunity as a sort of spring cleaning, ridding their households of weapons and ultimately choosing safety without access to firearms.

While the number of guns in circulation is at a historic high, the rate of gun ownership in the U.S. has declined significantly since its peak decades ago. When a gun owner decides to make their home gun-free, it can be difficult to dispose of their guns legally and safely. Gun buybacks provide a direct, efficient, and easy way to dispose of unwanted firearms, as well as providing an opportunity for the police department and government officials to engage the community.

Taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. last Saturday at the Andy Murphy Midtown Neighborhood Center on Broadway in Kingston, the payouts were categorized into the types of firearms brought: $300 for assault rifles, $150 for handguns, $75 for rifles/shotguns and $25 for non-functioning replicas/antique guns. Additionally, free gun safes were available to anyone able to display a valid pistol permit.

In an effort to reduce gun violence and promote firearm safety, the Community Gun Buyback, Project ChildSafe partnered this month with the Town of Lloyd Police Department to encourage all Ulster County residents and gun owners to take advantage of picking up a gun safety kit. “We encourage our town residents to pick up a Project ChildSafe safety kit so that they can securely store their firearm,” said Chief James Janso. “Each kit contains a safety curriculum and a cable-style gun lock. The locks fit on most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns. The goal is to prevent a child or any other unauthorized person from accessing a firearm in your home.”