Santa Rosa, Calif. – On Oct. 22, the City of Santa Rosa hosted a 4-hour drive-thru gun buyback event, where it distributed $76,000 in cash from private donations and received 423 firearms.
Hosted by the Office of Community Engagement and the Santa Rosa Police Department, the event provided a financial opportunity for those looking to anonymously and safely dispose of unwanted firearms. All funding for the gun buyback came from private donations from the Santa Rosa Police Foundation (SRPF), the office of U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson, Providence Medical Group, and other private donors.
“This was an incredible effort from the public and all involved,” said Police Chief John Cregan. “Using money solely from private donations, we were able to get hundreds of guns off the streets. We are incredibly grateful to these private donors, and especially the public, for continuing to make Santa Rosa safer from gun violence.”
Of the 423 firearms turned in, the City of Santa Rosa received each in the following:
- 409 handguns, shotguns, and rifles
- 8 ghost guns
- 6 assault rifles
Of the 409 handguns, shotguns, and rifles submitted to the City, 47 were accepted without payment due to funding being exhausted. All firearms from this event are set for destruction.
“I would like to thank everyone who stepped up and contributed funding and who took the time to make this event a great success,” said Santa Rosa City Manager Maraskeshia Smith. “This is an exemplary example of dedication to public safety from our residents and the public servants at the City and in law enforcement.”
“Congratulations to the City of Santa Rosa and the Santa Rosa Police Department on an incredibly successful gun buyback event,” said U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson, who contributed $5,000 to the event. “Proud to have contributed to this event so that our community could get hundreds of weapons off the street. Buyback programs like this one help protect our community, save lives, and prevent these deadly weapons from falling into the wrong hands. I look forward to a continued partnership with Santa Rosa leaders to protect our streets and advance further policies that prevent gun violence.”
“Gun buyback programs are one of the important steps we can take as a community to help curb gun violence,” said California Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire, who contributed $2,500 to the event. “I’m grateful to Police Chief Cregan, the Santa Rosa Police Department and the Santa Rosa City Council for their leadership and for organizing this incredibly successful event that took hundreds of firearms off the streets!”
The City of Santa Rosa would like to thank City staff, the SRPF, Congressman Thompson, Senator McGuire, and all the members of the public who made this gun buyback event a great success. Those efforts have contributed to a safer environment for the community from the threat of unwanted, unused, or illegal guns.
