Buyback event collects 567 guns in Santa Clara County

People came out in droves to the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church on Saturday and turned in unwanted handguns and rifles in exchange for cash.

The gun buyback event, sponsored by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and police departments of Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Mountain View, Palo Alto and Santa Clara, netted 567 firearms, the public safety agencies announced Wednesday.

The agencies handed out $53,700 to 276 people in exchange for the guns, according to Capt. Shawn Ahearn of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. Each of the law enforcement agencies involved contributed money for the buyback.

The firearms included 264 handguns, 182 rifles, 98 shotguns and 23 assault weapons, according to the press release. The firearms will be destroyed, except for those that are lost or stolen, which will be returned to the owners.

“We are grateful for the support and participation by our communities. Just one firearm removed from the streets is a step in the right direction in reducing the number of guns in homes that can be stolen and used by criminals. A total of 567 firearms removed is a major success,” said District Attorney Jeff Rosen, Sunnyvale Public Safety Chief Phan S. Ngo, Los Altos Chief Andy Galea, Mountain View Chief Max Bosel, Palo Alto Chief Robert Jonsen and Santa Clara Chief Mike Sellers in a joint statement. The public safety agencies offered $100 for handguns and $200 for assault rifles, with a maximum of $400 per person.