Raleigh police gun buyback event draws huge crowds, long lines

The line of cars started in the parking lot at Mount Peace Baptist Church and stretched down the street.

“I think it is amazing,” said Wienholt. “I am hoping that this effort is pulling some illegal weapons off the street.”

Michael Wienholt is a recreational shooter. He's selling three guns he just doesn’t use anymore.

He hopes, somewhere in this line, folks are handing over other guns as well.

The Raleigh Police Department paid people to turn their guns in. They were offering gift cards, up to $200, for the weapons.

“You might have an individual who has a loved one who has passed and they have a lot of firearms in the home and they are uncomfortable with that,” said Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson. “It might be an elderly person who might be afraid that these firearms could be stolen in some manner and with that they want to willfully surrender them.”

Airsoft, paintball, BB, pellet, and 3D guns, as well as guns that are not operational, altered, or damaged, were accepted. However, those items did not qualify for the gift card.

Gerald Givens, President of the Raleigh-Apex NAACP, has lost multiple family members to gun violence. He said he was glad to see this turnout.

“[I hope] to get some guns that may get stolen from someone’s home or out of someone’s car off the street,” said Givens.

Raleigh officials said around 200 gun thefts from cars have been reported this year.

Megan Delaney with Moms Demand Action said she thinks important relationships are also being made among those who want to do something about gun violence.

She wants to make one thing clear.

“We don’t oppose the second amendment,” said Delaney.

And also that getting a real hold on gun violence will take more work.

“There is not one tactic that will end gun violence, it is a long-term, multi-faceted strategy,” said Delaney.

Raleigh Police said nearly 150 people voluntarily surrendered their firearms Saturday, resulting in the surrender of 267 functional firearms and an additional 11 inoperable weapons.  

Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said this the first step in a strategy to reduce gun violence.

“It’s a way for them to get something in return for a weapon they might not use and don’t want around their house anymore,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin said the next step is an education program focused on gun safety and storing weapons safely as well as a gun prevention program.

Anyone who wants to surrender a firearm voluntarily can call the non-emergency Raleigh Police number 919-831-6311 for guidance.

“With the violence that we are seeing in the city we want to use every strategy that we can to help minimize that violence,” Patterson said.