Description
Led by Cambridge’s interfaith-based organizations, non-profit community and regional partners, the 6th annual citywide “Safer Homes, Safer Community: Cambridge Gun Buy-Back” initiative is once again being held on Saturday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This public health and public safety event will provide residents with an opportunity to anonymously and safely dispose of their unwanted firearms and, in turn, reduce the potential for an accidental discharge or wrongdoing in a home. Due to COVID-19, last year the event was not held. In the prior five years, Cambridge collected more than 170 unwanted firearms and BB guns, including an assault rifle and loaded handguns. More than 1,400 guns have been collected in 14 Middlesex County cities and towns since 2014.
The Reservoir Church will provide a safe, convenient location for participants to drop off unwanted guns with no questions asked and no ID required. Residents are asked to bring firearms unloaded with the safety engaged in a bag, box or case. The unloaded firearms can be left inside the trunk of your vehicle upon arrival.
Reservoir Church
170 Rindge Ave, Cambridge
Drop-off: Parking lot in front of the church (enter on Middlesex)
Cambridge Police and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will be handling the guns turned in, and the State Police will destroy the guns. Representatives from the Cambridge Public Health Department will also be on-site to provide helpful information and materials.
As an incentive to participate, residents will be awarded grocery store gift cards for each firearm they turn into public safety officers the day of the event. The values range depending on the firearm type:
$200 grocery storegift cardAssault Weapon
$100 grocery storegift cardRevolver, Handgun, Semi-Automatic, Shotgun, Rifle
$50 grocery storegift card BB Gun, Pellet Gun, Ammunition
$5 ice cream cardChildren who turn in any toy guns
For those who cannot attend the event on June 12th, gift cards will be honored if pickups are scheduled during the weeks leading up toand after the June 12th event (Monday, June 7 – Friday, June 18). Residents should call (617) 349-6009 to make an appointment.
For more information on Cambridge’s Gift Cards for Guns, please visit camb.ma/GiftCardsforGuns. If you or your organization is interested in becoming involved in the event (e.g. donate gift cards, volunteer at the event or help post flyers in advance of the event), please e-mail lori@manyhelpinghands365.org.
The following Cambridge interfaith organizations and community partners have already committed to collaborating on this important initiative: A Place to Heal Ministries, Abundant Life Church, Calvary Praise and Worship Center,Cambridgeport Baptist Church, Cambridge Community Fellowship Church, Christian Mission Holiness Church, Congregation Eitz Chayim, Christ Church, First Baptist Church, First Church in Cambridge Congregational, First Parish Cambridge,Friends Meeting Cambridge, Harvard Epworth United Methodist Church, Harvard Memorial Church, Islamic Society of Boston, Journey Church, Kingdom Empowerment Center, Massachusetts Avenue Baptist Church, Parish of Saint Paul, Pentecostal Tabernacle, Reservoir Church, Rush AME Zion Church, Salvation Army, Cambridge Citadel, St. James Episcopal Church, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Temple Beth Shalom, Union Baptist Church, Western Avenue Baptist Church, Cambridge Community Foundation, Cambridge Community Center, Cambridge Women’s Center, Cambridge YWCA, Community Art Center, East End House, Many Helping Hands, Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, My Brother’s Keeper Cambridge, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, The Loop Lab, Transition House, Tutoring Plus, YWCA Cambridge, Cambridgeside, Central Square Business Association, Fresh Pond Market, Harvard Square Business Association, Middle East Restaurant, Pemberton Market, Star Market/Shaw’s, Toscanini’s, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, Cambridge Arts Council, Cambridge Council on Aging, Cambridge Domestic & Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge Human Service Programs, Cambridge Peace Commission, Cambridge Police Department, Cambridge Public Health Department, Cambridge Public Works, Cambridge Veterans Services, Massachusetts State Police and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office.
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