As communities across the borough continue to be tormented by the seemingly unending scourge of senseless gun violence, Queens district attorney announced that she will sponsor a gun buyback event in Springfield Gardens on Saturday, June 12.
The event, cosponsored by Attorney General Letitia James and the NYPD, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Church, located at 136-20 219th St.
Those with firearms are invited to surrender them with no questions asked. For each operable handgun turned in, the reward is an iPad while supplies last and a $200 bank card.
A $25 reward will be given to anyone turning in a BB gun or air pistol. Participants can collect a $75 bank card for any rifle or shotgun. A single person can turn in as many firearms as they have, however, the reward is a maximum of three $200 bank cards per individual. The bank cards can be used as a debit card for purchases with merchants or at ATMs to get cash.
The Springfield Gardens gun buyback event takes place after the shooting death of 10-year-old Justin Wallace in Far Rockaway.
“In these difficult days, it is important that we continue to come together as a community to reject the notion that the scourge of guns is insurmountable,” Katz said. “We must take every step we can. Every gun surrendered this Saturday is a potential life saved.”
Katz stressed that the event is 100 percent anonymous with no questions asked about any surrendered firearm.
Participants should bring the unloaded weapon in a paper or plastic bag or inside of a shoe box to the church. If transporting the weapon by car, the gun must be placed in the trunk of the vehicle.
Weapons from gun dealers and active or retired law enforcement will not be accepted. The event Saturday is also sponsored by Gateway JFK, St. Luke Cathedral of Laurelton and the New York City Police Foundation.
