Salt Lake City police to host gun buyback event, where public can surrender unwanted weapons
The Salt Lake City Police Department will host a gun buyback event this weekend, where residents can relinquish their unwanted firearms — no questions asked, and no ID needed.
The event will be held Saturday at the Public Safety Building, located at 475 S.
300 East in downtown Salt Lake City, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
About 150 gift cards will be given away that day in exchange for unwanted firearms on a first-come, first-served basis, according to a news release.
People who turn in semi-automatic rifles — such as AR- or AK-style rifles — can receive a £100 gift card. People who turn in other types of firearms can receive a £50 gift card.
No more than one gift card will be provided to each person, no matter how many guns they turn in, police said.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Citizens wait in line to turn in their unwanted firearms during a previous SLCPD gun buyback event on Saturday, June 11, 2022.
Free gun locks will also be available at the event, to anyone who wants one. The locks were donated by Intermountain Health, police said.
People who want to participate in the buyback event should enter Blair Street from 400 South, then all vehicle traffic will exit west on 500 South.
At a gun buyback event last summer, Salt Lake City officers collected 103 guns, including 38 rifles, 28 revolvers, 24 pistols and 13 shotguns.
“We would be naive to think this will be the solution to gun crimes in our community,” Salt Lake City police Chief Mike Brown said in a statement at the time, “but the Salt Lake City Police Department is fully committed to doing everything we can to reduce the chance of a firearm being used illegally, lost, stolen or abandoned.”
People who are unable to attend the buyback event can still turn in unwanted firearms anytime by calling 801-799-3000.
However, gift cards won’t be provided, and the surrender would be documented in a police report.
If you bring a gun to the event, police said you must:
o Make sure the firearm is unloaded.
o Make sure the firearm is safely stored, such as in a gun lockbox or other storage container, away from a driver or passengers.
o Communicate with officers on-scene. If you’re not sure whether a gun is unloaded, tell officers that — and tell them where the gun is.
o Comply with officers. The process may take longer for some people if they have more than one firearm, ammunition, or if the gun needs to be secured by officers.
o Maintain patience and safety at all times.
Never exit your vehicle with your gun unless you are specifically directed to do so by an officer.
