The D.C. Area Interfaith Gun Violence Prevention Network is collaborating with the Montgomery County Sheriff and State’s Attorney to organize a gun buyback event on Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event will take place in the parking lot of the United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley at 13421 Clopper Rd. in Germantown.
Established in 2017, the Interfaith GVP Network comprises volunteers from over 40 churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples actively engaged in gun violence prevention efforts, working alongside congregants, clergy, and other advocates to address and mitigate gun violence issues.
Partner organizations supporting this initiative include the United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley and Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore.
According to a press release, the April 20 event marks the first upcounty faith-based gun buyback, responding to an increase in gun violence incidents in recent years. Previous successful buybacks were conducted in Baltimore, Rockville, and Upper Marlboro last year.
Community members can anonymously surrender firearms and receive food store gift cards valued at $100 for functional handguns, rifles, and shotguns, and $200 for operational military assault-style weapons and privately made firearms (“ghost guns“). No identification is required, and law enforcement follows a no-questions-asked policy. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will assess the firearms, and the Interfaith GVP Network will determine gift card eligibility while providing gun safety guidance.
Montgomery County Sheriff Maxwell Uy guarantees that all surrendered guns will be permanently destroyed with no components repurposed. Participants must stay in their vehicles, transport unloaded firearms in the trunk, and are prohibited from having ammunition in the guns. The sponsors may restrict the number of gift cards per individual, irrespective of the weapons surrendered. Non-functional firearms and ammunition will be accepted without compensation exchange. Gift card availability is limited.
Additionally, the Interfaith GVP Network is seeking financial backing from Montgomery County businesses, network members, faith groups, foundations, county offices, and the public to support this buyback. The goal is to raise a minimum of $30,000 to remove at least 300 guns from the streets, amounting to an average of $100 per gun.
All donations are fully tax-deductible. To contribute, visit the CharityWeb site.
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