Hoboken Police Department collects 166 guns during Saturday’s buyback program

The Hoboken Police Department collected 166 guns during their gun buyback program on Saturday, in an effort to reduce potential gun violence in and around the Mile Square City.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

The event was held at police headquarters and residents were invited to voluntarily surrender up to three firearms, with no questions asked, in exchange for cash payments up to $350 using American Rescue Plan funding.

The Hoboken Police Department collected a total of 166 firearms, including: 77 rifles or shotguns, 72 handguns (semi-automatic/revolver, 10 illegal weapons (handgun/assault rifle/sawed-off shotgun), and seven inoperable weapons.

“Damon Murray’s tragic passing was a painful reminder of the impact of gun violence on our community, and I’m happy we are taking strong measures to take guns off our streets,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.

“Thank you to the Hoboken Police Department, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and Attorney General Matthew Platkin for working with my administration to host this successful buyback program.”

The mayor first briefly made mention of the gun buyback program at an 8th District congressional forum in the Jersey City Heights last month.

“ … We have said all along that if just one gun was collected, it would be one less potential weapon in our community, but in the end, we managed to secure dozens of firearms that otherwise could have been stolen and used in a crime or been accidentally found and fired by a child,” added Public Safety Director Kenneth Ferrante.

“We may not be able to end gun violence, but we have to do everything in our power to try to get illegal and unwanted guns out of our community. I thank my entire team for working so diligently to create a smooth, successful, and safe event, in an important effort to prevent senseless violence and tragedies,” noted Police Chief Steven Aguiar.