Morris County gun event yields 674 firearms, including 'ghost gun' kits, assault weapons

Kyle Morel, Morristown Daily Record
·2 min read
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Morris County law enforcement officials collected 674 firearms and handed out more than $100,000 as part of its gun buy-back program.

The yield, from last weekend's two events, where cash up to $300 was offered for firearms no questions asked, included rifles, shotguns and handguns as well as several assault weapons and two assembly kits for "ghost guns," or untraceable firearms that can be built at home, said the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

"Public safety and the security of our residents is of the utmost importance to me and the officers of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office," said county Sheriff James Gannon. "The collaborative efforts of this program have increased the level of both by providing an avenue of disposal for unwanted firearms."

The $104,675 payout was funded through the Morris County Sheriff's CrimeStoppers and New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, along with American Rescue Plan Act funding from the county commissioners and forfeiture funds from the county prosecutor's office. ,

Law enforcement officials display firearms taken off the street during Morris County’s Gun Buyback program, held May 14 and 15, 2022.
Law enforcement officials display firearms taken off the street during Morris County’s Gun Buyback program, held May 14 and 15, 2022.

Some of the individuals who turned in firearms expressed concern about keeping the unused weapons in their homes. Some said they had young children in the home or loved ones with mental health issues who may access the weapons. Some said the massacre shooting in a Buffalo supermarket on Saturday inspired them to surrender the guns, the prosecutor's office said.

"Any program that can remove unwanted firearms from such situations removes a violent and often emotional alternative and can preserve, rather than endanger, citizen lives," said Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll. "The sheriff and I assure our residents that we will continue our aggressive efforts to protect our citizens from gun violence."

The Mount Olive and Parsippany police departments partnered with the other public safety agencies to host the buyback events.

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Morris County NJ gun buyback program takes 674 firearms, gives $100K