Buyback Program Collects Nearly 700 Guns

New York, NY —

The city paid cash for 687 guns as part of a gun buyback program over the weekend. WNYC's Kathleen Horan has more.

REPORTER: On Saturday five churches in Brooklyn doubled as drop off locations for New Yorkers who wanted to exchange their firearms for $200. A spokesperson for the DA's office says most people turned in handguns, but there were also a dozen assault rifles brought in as well.

At Brown Memorial Church in Clinton Hill there was a wait of at least a few hours to get processed and paid. A woman who identified herself as retired federal officer showed up with three handguns in a paper bag.

WOMAN: I took them from someone and I figured they would be safer with me then they would be with that person - he doesn't realize they are gone now.

REPORTER: She says she was glad to get rid of them in exchange for the money. The city set aside $450,000 in hopes of getting as many firearms as possible off the street.

For WNYC, I'm Kathleen Horan.