City offers cash for guns ‘no questions asked’

One-day event part of city’s fight against gun violence

The city wants your guns, and it will pay you for them.

The Albuquerque Police Department on Friday announced an upcoming gun buy-back program this summer as part of Mayor Tim Keller’s fight against gun violence. The one-day event will be on Saturday, July 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the heart of the International District — at Cesar Chavez Community Center, 7505 Kathryn SE.

“In addition to encouraging gun owners to secure their firearms, we also want to reach out to people who no longer want their firearms,” Keller said in a statement. “We can take those guns out of circulation and reduce the number of guns that are available for thieves. Ultimately, we don’t want these guns in the wrong hands and used to commit violent crimes.”

The announcement comes on the heels of several initiatives to crack down on violent crime and tackle a recent rise in shootings citywide.

Keller said there were 286 guns stolen in Albuquerque over the first three months of 2019 — more than three guns per day. That’s in addition to the 2,000 guns stolen out of homes and vehicles between 2016 and 2018.

City Councilor Pat Davis announced he is donating $30,000 from community-enhancement funds to support the event.

APD, Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers and the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office are partnering for the event, which will offer to buy

guns from residents “no questions asked.”

APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said if any of the guns turn out to be stolen, the owner will be given the opportunity to retrieve it “but we will not question the person turning in the gun.” APD will also check to see if the guns have been used in previous crimes.

Participants will walk away with $75 for handguns, shotguns and rifles and $100 for assault rifles. They are asked to transfer the weapons, which must be operable and unloaded, in the trunk of their vehicle.

According to the release, guns collected will be used for an art project addressing gun violence. The project will be designed through a public process determined, in part, by the guns collected.