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06/25/2019 01:15 PMNumerous shoreline residents opted to stop by the Guilford Police Department on June 22 to voluntarily surrender their firearms or pick up free gunlocks or gun storage safes. The event was designed to collect unwanted firearms and promote safe storage practices.
The Guilford Police Department, in cooperation and collaboration with the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, the Song Strong Foundation and the Yale New Haven Hospital’s Injury Prevention Program, conducted the program on June 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event comes on the heels of the recent passage of Ethan’s Law. The legislation, which was recently signed by Gov. Ned Lamont, is named in memory of 15 year-old Guilford High School freshman Ethan Song, who was shot and killed with an unsecured weapon in 2018, is a safe gun storage bill that closes a legal loophole, promotes safe storage of firearms, and promotes gun safety education.
Identification was not required to surrender the weapon and no questions were asked. In exchange for turning in a firearm, citizens received Visa gift cards: $25 for a single/double shot derringer type, $50 for a rifle, $100 for a handgun, and $200 for an assault weapon according to the Guilford Police Department.
During the five-hour buyback, the department collected, “three Derringer type, 46 handguns, 31 rifles and 3 assault weapons” according to a press release.
The goal of the event was also to promote safe storage of firearms in the home. According to a press release, “the Yale New Haven Hospital Injury Prevention Program also provided safe gun storage information pamphlets, and free gun locks and gun storage safes to citizens interested in safe storage options for their firearms. Distributed during the event were 9 small safes, 18 large safes and 15 gun/trigger locks”.
Numerous politicians stopped by the event including State Representative Sean Scanlon (D-98), U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D), and Guilford First Selectman Matt Hoey. Also in attendance were members of Moms Demand Action and Ethan Song’s parents Mike and Kristin.
In a post on the Ethan Song Acts of Kindness Facebook page, Kristin Song thanked all of those who came out and supported the event.
“When Ethan died I started researching how to keep kids safe,” she said in the post. “Gun buy backs were one way. I wrote an email to [Injury Free Coalition for Kids New Haven Director] Pina [Violano] because she had done them in the past…we had people come in who told us so many close calls. We took in over 80 guns, 3 assault rifles and handed out 40 biometric safes. We love you Ethan.”
Residents are also reminded that they can turn in unwanted weapons for destruction to Guilford Police Department, 400 Church Street, at any time.
For those interested in turning unwanted firearms to the Guilford Police outside of a formal buyback event, residents are asked to call the department at 203-453-8061 so an officer can assist with properly transporting and turning the weapon over to the police.
Once a firearm is turned over, the guns are sent to the state, a check is run on the gun to ensure it wasn’t involved in a crime, and then the gun is destroyed. Residents cannot walk into the Police Department with the weapon and must have a permit to transport to drive the weapon to the department.
“We would never say ‘No’ if someone wanted to get rid of a gun,” Police Chief Jeff Hutchinson said previously. “People can just call and ask if they have a question or concern.”