Take guns off streets

Studies show that the majority of gun-related deaths are suicides. That is one reason why on Dec. 3, the San Mateo County Sheriff ’s Office, along with the law enforcement departments from Redwood City and Belmont, the city of San Carlos and Citizens for a San Mateo County Gun Buyback, will be sponsoring an anonymous gun buyback event.

The event will be held at 1000 Skyway Road in San Carlos from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees must transport their firearms unloaded and in the trunk of their vehicles. Cash payments of $50 will be paid for nonfunctioning firearms, $100 for handguns, rifles and shotguns, and $200 for assault weapons and ghost guns as classified by the state of California.

It is our hope that these buybacks, which have resulted in more than 2,000 firearms turned in, will help reduce the scourge of gun deaths in our communities.