Large Turnout at Gilroy Gun Buyback

The turnout was large Saturday when law enforcement in Gilroy hosted the first gun buyback in South Santa Clara County in 25 years, just months after the mass shooting at the town’s Garlic Festival and another deadly shooting in nearby Morgan Hill.

Law enforcement agencies weren’t sure what kind of response they would get, but according to attendees, the mass shootings so close to home inspired them to get rid of guns they weren’t using before those weapons fell into the wrong hands. In total, authorities confirmed that 493 guns were turned in.

“We had over 70 cars waiting when we opened at 9 a.m.,” said Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Josue Fuentes. “Within the first hour we had already given out $20,000.”