The Hoboken Police Department will host a gun buyback program, where residents can earn up to $350 per firearm surrendered with no questions asked.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The buyback event will be held at Hoboken Police Headquarters, 106 Hudson St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 22nd, pending approval from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
“The rise in gun violence is a national epidemic but having recently lost one of our own, makes this personal for me and our Public Safety Department,” Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante said in a statement.
“If we take one gun off the streets, perhaps we are protecting one family from the devastation Damon’s family is going through today.”
Participants will receive cash immediately following the surrender of the firearm. The amount is dependent on the type of firearm being surrendered.
Inoperable weapons will be bought for $40, rifles/shotguns are valued at $200, with semi-automatic and revolver handguns purchased for $250, and assault weapons and other illegal firearms assigned a $350 buyback price.
“We understand that Hoboken, compared to other cities, is not known for gun violence. But even one shooting death in our city is one too many, and if this buyback can prevent even a single instance of gun violence, it is well worth it,” added Mayor Ravi Bhalla.
“I offer my sincere thanks to all law enforcement officials who took the time to review and consider this program. I would also like to thank the residents who I spoke with following Damon Murray’s tragic passing, for supporting this decision.”
Earlier this month, Bhalla announced that Hoboken would be naming the gym at 605 Jackson St. after the late Murray, a Hoboken High School graduate who was a standout baseball and football player who ended up being a gridiron walk-on at Rutgers University.
The “Damon Murray Community Gym” will be dedicated at a date to be determined this summer.
In the wake of his killing, friends and family members have called on the city and police department to do more for underserved communities, with three council members suggesting to bring back a police precinct at the HHA.
Bhalla first mentioned that the city was working on a gun buyback program at a candidate forum for the 8th District congressional race last week, as only HCV reported, opting not to get into specifics at the time.
Participants are asked to register in advance by either signing up online here, picking up a form at Hoboken PD headquarters, or printing out a form at www.hobokenpdnj.gov.
All firearms must be listed on the registration form, while registrants do not need to provide identification and can remain anonymous.
“On behalf of Moms Demand Action of Hudson County, we want to thank the City of Hoboken for pursuing a gun buyback program as an approach to getting both legal and illegal guns out of our City without risk of prosecution – even if only one gun is collected,
that’s one less gun that’s on our streets, ” noted Amy Faucher and Councilwoman Emily Jabbour, Co-leaders of Hudson County Moms Demand Action.
“This short-term action item must be part of a broader vision for the City of Hoboken to invest in programs that meaningfully engage our youth to prevent future tragedies. Moms Demand Action looks forward to being part of this ongoing conversation.”
Anyone with questions about the gun buyback can call Hoboken PD Headquarters at 201-420-2100 x 3155.
