17 Assault Weapons No Longer in Gang-plagued Area

By Bay City News Service

A second gun buy back event held by Santa Clara County officials this month garnered more than 600 firearms and paid out more the $61,000 on Saturday.

The buy back held Saturday at Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose yielded 610 guns, adding to the 1,116 firearms collected at a March 2 event at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.

The guns collected comprised of 17 assault weapons, 225 handguns, 237 rifles, 123 shotguns and eight other weapons such as BB guns that did not receive a pay out.

Participants in the anonymous buy back received money for turning
in the weapons, with a total of $61,150 paid out.

At the March 2 event sponsored by the county, $114,000 was paid out, a record amount compared to similar events in other Bay Area counties.

Saturday's buy back included a peace walk, a resource fair and other entertainment as part of a third annual event held by county Supervisor
Dave Cortese's office at Most Holy Trinity Church.

Some 200 participants were part of the fair, where 150 gang-related items were collected, such as knives, pellet guns, bandanas, and other gang clothing.

Michelle Pelayo-Osorio from Cortese's office said there was remaining money from the county's March 2 buy back that was used for Saturday's event.

Usually Cortese's office hosts a gun exchange with items donated from corporate sponsors at the community safety event, however this year
there were funds available to coordinate a buy back, she said.

"The goal is how to continue to do it...and get the neighborhood involved," Pelayo-Osorio said.

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