More than 200 firearms were taken off of the streets on both sides of the Bay at two separate gun buyback events in Oakland and San Francisco on Saturday, police and city officials said.
Organizers in Oakland collected 146 firearms while those in San Francisco collected 75 at the gun buyback events, which came on the one-year anniversary of the school shooting that claimed 26 lives in Newtown, Conn.
The firearms collected in Oakland included 73 handguns, 69 rifles and shotguns and four assault weapons, according to organizers of the event, which was held at the headquarters of the group Youth UpRising.
People who brought in the firearms received up to $100 for each handgun and up to $200 for each assault rifle, according to organizers.
“Working in partnership with our residents is critical to our work to make Oakland safer and more prosperous for all,” Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said in a statement.
“The people of Oakland deserve to live in an environment free from the fear of gun violence,” police Chief Sean Whent said. “Partnering with the community and Youth UpRising is an important step toward a safer Oakland.”
San Francisco’s event was held at the Alive & Free/Omega Boys Club in partnership with the mayor’s office and other community members.
Five of the 75 weapons surrendered during the event were assault rifles, according to San Francisco police.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
