EASTON, Pa. — A Northampton County gun buyback program aimed at improving public safety collected 248 weapons and several boxes of ammunition, officials said Tuesday.
The District Attorney’s office, working with local police, gave out more than $9,000 in grocery gift cards in return for the submissions, Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck said.
- The Northampton County District Attorney's office said its most recent gun buyback brought in 248 weapons
- In exchange, the office gave out more than $9,000 in grocery store gift cards
- Firearms collected include a WWII-era British submachine gun, two sawed-off shotguns and a gun that was reported stolen in California
"It’s for safety — that’s the priority,” Houck said. “This was for community safety, and to prevent any kind of accidental, or reckless, or intentional discharge of the firearm.”
Authorities collected weapons Saturday at two Northampton County fire stations, using funds from the DA’s office and the 2022 Northampton County Public Safety Grant.
'We want to get rid of these'
The buyback was conducted anonymously, with no identification or proof of county residence required.
“People coming in were young and old,” Houck said.
“They were people who just didn't want to shoot anymore. They were people who had an adult son or daughter that left and left a gun behind. There were also people who just recently had children and didn't want their guns in the house.”Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck
“They were people who just didn't want to shoot anymore. They were people who had an adult son or daughter that left and left a gun behind. There were also people who just recently had children and didn't want their guns in the house.”
Among the firearms collected were two sawed-off shotguns, a functional WWII-era submachine gun, and one gun police could not identify. At least two guns were turned in loaded with a round chambered.
Each weapon with a serial number was checked against the FBI's database of stolen guns. One pistol came back stolen and will be sent to authorities in California for investigation. The remaining firearms will be scrapped in the coming days, officials said.
Houck said his office would continue holding buybacks as long as many guns are turned in.
“The citizens are basically telling us, ‘We want to get rid of these,’” he said. “If they want to get rid of them, we’ll take them.”
