A number of local nonprofit organizations and local police departments have teamed up to host the second annual #KeepKidsSafe Connecticut Statewide Gun Buyback and Gun Safe Giveaway Day from 10 am to 1 pm Saturday, November 12, at locations including Newtown Police Department, 191 South Main Street.

“The Newtown Police Department is happy to be a member of this coalition in which we receive unwanted guns and also give away gun safes to provide for the safe storage of firearms for gun owners,” said Newtown Police Captain Bryan Bishop. “At last year’s event, the Newtown Police Department received just over 100 guns. We look forward to another successful event this year.”

This year, the buyback and safe storage giveaway events in the communities have been planned on Veteran’s Day Weekend to shine a light on the devastating impact of gun suicides in the veteran community.

In 2020, 45,222 Americans were killed by guns. Of that figure 24,292 due to gun suicides. Guns are used by non-veteran US adults to complete suicides 50% of the time.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, there were 6,146 veteran suicides or an average of 17 per day in America in 2020. Roughly 70% of those deaths were due to firearms use.

In Connecticut, 219 people died from guns in 2020 and nearly 40 veterans died from all forms of suicides and guns were used 55% of the time.

Increasing the time and distance between someone in a suicidal crisis and access to lethal means can reduce suicide risk and save lives. For that reason, on November 12, educational material on gun safety will be distributed along with a limited number of “pin code” gun safes. Gun owners will have an opportunity to remove unwanted, unused, or unsafe guns from their homes by trading them in for gift cards.

During last year’s inaugural #KeepKidsSafe Connecticut Statewide Gun Buyback and Gun Safe Giveaway Day, over 530 guns, including 10 assault weapons, were collected, and over 300 gun safes and hundreds of gun safety educational materials were distributed.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a gun-free home is the safest home for children and teens. Having a gun in the home doubles an individual’s risk for homicide and triples the risk of suicide. If guns are present in the home, they must be safely stored to help prevent firearm deaths and injuries.

The voluntary gun buyback and safe firearm storage events in the participating communities will offer an opportunity for gun owners to safely remove their unwanted weapons from their homes and communities. These events will also promote gun safety and safe firearm storage.

For gun owners who want to keep their guns but seek a responsible way to better secure their weapons, a limited supply of pin code gun safes will be provided free of charge to those with a valid gun permit.

Event Details

In addition to Newtown, buyback locations are being planned at Guilford Police Department, 400 Church Street; Hartford Public Works, 50 Jennings Road; Stamford Police Department, 725 Bedford Street; and Waterbury Police Department Training Center, 240 Bank Street. Middletown will also host the event, at a location yet to be determined.

Buyback and safe giveaway events are 100% anonymous; IDs are not required and no questions will be asked.

The gun buyback and gun safe storage giveaway day is an important community safety initiative that will help all gun owners to dispose of unwanted and/or unsecured guns to help reduce the risk of homicides, suicides, unintentional shootings and domestic violence, and keep guns from getting into the wrong hands — such as children, individuals who may be facing a mental health crisis, individuals with dementia, perpetrators of domestic violence, and criminals.

The buybacks will provide gift cards to individuals who turn in an operable firearm.

Guns must be transported in the trunk of the car. Non-operable guns, BB guns, and ammunition are welcome, but no gift cards will be exchanged for these items.

Buyback prices offered are $25 for single and double shot (Derringer-style) handguns and any type of black powder guns; $50 for rifles and shotguns; $100 for pistol and revolver handguns; and $200 for assault weapons (per Connecticut summary of gun laws, to be determined by police).

Newly sawed-off shotguns will not be accepted.

Guns must be delivered unloaded in clear plastic bags, and any ammunition must be delivered in a separate bag in the trunk of the car. Please note, COVID-19 guidelines will be strictly enforced. All participants must wear a mask and comply with all social distancing guidelines.

Participating organizations supporting this program include Newtown Action Alliance Foundation, Ethan Miller Song Foundation, Humanium Metal, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Saint Francis Hospital, Hartford Hospital, CT Against Gun Violence Education Fund, CT Violence Intervention Program, Mothers United Against Violence, Violent Crime Survivors, Guilford Police Department, Hartford Police Department, Middletown Police Department, Newtown Police Department, Stamford Police Department, and Waterbury Police Department.

Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.