HARTFORD — Multiple police departments across Connecticut on Saturday will be providing gift certificates to people who bring in unwanted, operable guns as part of a new statewide campaign organizers plan to hold annually.
Events for the first coordinated, statewide gun buyback initiative, dubbed the Campaign to Keep Kids Safe, will be held in Guilford, Hartford, Newtown, Waterbury and Norwalk. Besides providing people with the opportunity to drop off guns in exchange for gift cards, ranging from $25 to $200, a limited number of biometric gun safes will be given away to those gun owners with a valid gun permit who want to safely store their weapons.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said his and other cities have held gun buyback programs for years. But the Democrat said organizers hope this new statewide effort will help get the word out to more people who may have a gun they don't want, can't handle or store safely.