San Rafael, CA -- On September 13, a highly successful Gun Buyback Program was conducted at five locations in Marin County.
All of Marin's police agencies endorsed and supported the implementation of the program. All members of our County Board of Supervisors endorsed the program and contributed $40,000 toward the purchase of firearms.
In addition, I provided an additional $41,000 that I had within my budget center, which I had generated from public contributions. Going into the September 13 Gun Buyback date, $81,000 was available for the purchase of any qualifying surrendered firearms.
On September 13, 685 firearms were surrendered, which depleted the budgeted funds available for this year's program. The 2013 program was a two-day event during which we obtained 857 firearms. As you will see in the statistics, I have summarized below our 2016 one-day program, which yielded 685 firearms, surpassing the one-day average in the previous program.
In fact, the volume of individuals appearing at the five surrender locations exceeded our expectations and the available funds were exhausted about two hours before the 8:00 p.m. closing time. At that point, we provided the public still waiting the opportunity simply to turn in their firearms without compensation and a number of people did in fact do so.
Here is a breakdown on the firearms and ammunition surrendered at the five designated locations on September 13:
| Station |
Number of Guns |
Amount Paid |
| Central Marin Police Authority |
92 |
$11,900.00 |
| Mill Valley Police Department |
101 |
$12,500.00 |
| Novato Police Department |
240 |
$24,000.00 |
| San Rafael Police Department |
204 |
$25,600.00 |
| Sheriff's Substation Pt. Reyes |
48 |
$ 5,600.00 |
| Total: |
685 |
$79,600.00 |
Number of Guns Turned in by Type:
| Totals by Type |
Number of Guns |
| Semi-auto handgun |
169 |
| Semi-auto rifle |
74 |
| Rifle |
158 |
| Revolver |
155 |
| Shotgun |
119 |
| Other |
10 |
| Total: |
685 |
Number of Guns Turned in by County of Origin:
| Totals by County |
Number of Guns |
| Marin |
346 |
| Contra Costa |
75 |
| Sonoma |
162 |
| San Francisco |
27 |
| Other |
12 |
| Total: |
622* |
*63 guns were received, for which no compensation was paid, yielding a total of 685 guns. It is unknown from which county these participants came.
Number of Ammunition Rounds Turned in by Station:
| Station |
Number of Rounds |
| Central Marin Police Authority |
100 |
| Mill Valley Police Department |
0 |
| Novato Police Department |
0 |
| San Rafael Police Department |
855 |
| Sheriff Substation Pt. Reyes |
0 |
| Total: |
955 |
The type of firearms surrendered covered a wide variety of models and categories. There were long rifles (bolt action and semi-automatic), shotguns, sawed-off shotguns, pistols, and semi-automatic handguns. I have included a photograph of a Heckler & Koch MP5 9mm sub-machine gun surrendered at the San Rafael Police Department. This particular firearm had a double magazine clamp with 15-round capacity magazines. The individual surrendering this firearm also surrendered two silencer attachments along with a few 30-round capacity magazines. Not pictured were an additional MP5 and a couple AK-47s that were surrendered. The MP5 is a fully automatic firearm used in the past by our Navy SEALs and clearly not a legal or appropriate firearm for the private citizen, and is an extremely dangerous firearm to have on our streets or in our homes.
I personally believe the removal of these 685 firearms from the homes in our community and our neighboring communities means there are 685 fewer chances that a firearm will be the cause of an accidental death due to the negligent handling by an adult or child; or be available to someone despondent and suicidal; or be in a home and stolen during a burglary and then subsequently appear in a criminal enterprise; or be available during an explosive domestic violence incident; or be available to an emotionally or mentally challenged individual at a time of crisis.
EDWARD S. BERBERIAN
District Attorney