HONOLULU – The Department of Law Enforcement and partners held a gun buyback event at Aloha Stadium on Saturday, collecting approximately 514 firearms, numerous cartridges and related items.
The weapons surrendered in exchange for gift cards included a fully automatic assault pistol, assault rifles, semi-automatic rifles and handguns, revolvers, shotguns, ghost guns and Glock switches that can convert Glock pistols into fully automatic firearms, according to a press release.
Those who surrendered firearms received a Foodland gift card valued at $100 or $200, depending on the type of firearm surrendered. In total, 531 gift cards valued at $53,100 were distributed.
Individuals could surrender any number of firearms but could receive a maximum of three gift certificates. Both functioning and non-functioning firearms were accepted and free gun locks to secure the firearms were offered to anyone who did not wish to surrender a weapon.
“We have lost too many loved ones and endured far too much gun violence in our neighborhoods where we are supposed to feel safe,” Gov. Josh Green said in the release. “This second event and the entire gun buyback initiative are part of a larger effort to combat gun violence and promote safe neighborhoods across Hawaii. I am proud to partner with our law enforcement agencies to expand this program statewide.”
Jordan Lowe, Director of Law Enforcement, said, “We are truly pleased with the community’s response to this buyback program, which is just one way we are making our community safer. Turning in unwanted guns can help save a life and prevent future crimes.”
The ongoing effort to protect the public from gun violence is a joint effort of the Department of Law Enforcement in cooperation with the Office of the Governor, the Department of the Attorney General, the Honolulu Police Department, and Honolulu Emergency Services.
The event was an amnesty program, so no questions were asked about those surrendering weapons and no ID was required.
Future gun buyback programs will be discussed with county law enforcement partners across the state.
