San Mateo County to Hold Gun Buyback Program Saturday

(Bay City News) After U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) held a successful gun buyback program in San Mateo County earlier this year, she and Bay Area law enforcement leaders have planned another gun buyback for this weekend.

San Mateo County residents can drop off weapons between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday at the buyback event in South San Francisco at the San Mateo County Superior Court's Northern Branch courthouse, located at 1050 Mission Road.

Participants will receive $100 cash for handguns, shotguns or rifles and up to $200 for assault weapons.

Guns will be accepted with no questions asked, but the weapons must be unloaded, organizers said.

In January, a buyback event at the San Mateo County Event Center in San Mateo netted more than 680 firearms, including 24 assault weapons, 338 handguns and 371 rifles.

About $63,500 was paid out to participants.

Speier will stop by Saturday's event as part of her political efforts to curb gun violence in Bay Area communities.

Following the deadly massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., last December, Speier joined the congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

The Democratic group put together policy recommendations for comprehensive gun control in February, including stricter background checks, limits to ammunition and magazine purchases, and bans on assault weapons.

A modified package of gun reform laws is making its way through Congress this week.

The congresswoman will be accompanied on Saturday by police chiefs from several San Mateo County cities.

Those seeking more information about the buyback program are asked to call (650) 829-3700.