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JSO aims to get 2,050 guns off your streets within the year

A renewed effort to get unwanted guns off your streets is now partnered with an opportunity to keep children out of crime.

One year after Jacksonville rebooted its Gun Bounty program, JSO is rolling out a second round of gun buyback events.  The first is scheduled for Saturday, June 28 at the North Jacksonville Baptist Church on North Main Street. Sheriff John Rutherford wouldn’t comment on how many buybacks they’re planning this year, but says they hope to have 2,050 guns turned in within the next year.

“We want to provide a safe mechanism for people who decide they don’t want a firearm,” Rutherford says.

This second phase comes after 2,035 guns were bought back through three events over the last year.  Rutherford says 33 of those guns were stolen- at least one dating back to 1969.

“Stolen guns have the propensity to wind up in crime,” he says.

Rutherford says the number of guns bought back over the last year was greater than the number JSO seized as the result of standard patrol efforts.

While none of the guns which were turned in to police at these events were tied to a specific crime- other than those that were reported stolen- Rutherford says getting unwanted guns off the streets will make the community safer.

If you have an unwanted gun, you can turn it in to JSO, no questions asked, at these events. You receive $50 in cash for each gun. Last year, this was funded through the Delores Barr Weaver Fund at the Community Foundation.

Rutherford is committing $70,000 this year from drug forfeiture money for this next round of buybacks.

“We’re happy to be partnering with drug dealers to get these guns off the street,” he says.

New this year, Weaver is matching each $50 buyback with a $50 donation to the Police Athletic League. She has committed up to $135,000.

“Our children deserve support, but more importantly they deserve to be safe,” she says.

Weaver challenged JSO to ensure this year’s event had a connection to improving the community, which led to the PAL partnership.  Rutherford believes this will address one of what he identifies as the biggest problems in Jacksonville- keeping children out of crime.

“Common goal is to make our community safer providing better opportunities for our children,” says PAL Executive Director Lt. Matt Nemeth.

While Weaver personally advocates for more regulation on gun use, Rutherford says he supports responsible gun ownership, and believes the buyback is one avenue a responsible owner would consider.

The buyback is from 10AM to 2PM. More may be scheduled over the year. The Gun Bounty program also continues, where you can submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers about an illegal gun and be eligible for a reward.

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