Melrose Gun Buy Back Program Saturday, May 10

The following is a press release from the City of Melrose: 

Melrose is a very safe community, and oftentimes one would not think that Melrose and other suburban communities that enjoy relative safety would need to offer a buyback program to its citizens, but the fact is Melrose is home to a number of guns -- unused, often unregistered, forgotten -- that may potentially be stolen or accidentally discharged. As people clean their houses, or clean the houses of family members who have passed or moved away, firearms may be found that were forgotten, and people don't know what to do with them. This is why Melrose, along with Wakefield and Arlington, is offering a gun buy-back program.

As Sheriff Peter Koutoujian says, "On average, more than 34,000 people are accidentally shot or commit suicide using a firearm each year. I believe that providing residents with a safe way to dispose of firearms they no longer want can help reduce these numbers. These buybacks also encourage dialogue among those involved about ways to make our communities safer."

"The Melrose Police Department is always happy to team up with the Middlesex Sheriff's office to make our community safer and provide services to citizens," said Police Chief Michael Lyle. "I encourage everyone to participate."

The Melrose Police Department, in conjunction with the Middlesex County Sheriff's Department, is partnering to offer this community service to Melrose residents only who have firearms they want to dispose of properly. 

This is how it works: on Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Melrose Police Department in conjunction with the Middlesex Sheriff's office in the rear parking lot of the police station will take unloaded firearms that are sealed in a clear plastic bag. It's amnesty day so if someone doesn't have a license to carry they will be exempted from the Massachusetts firearms law. The gun will be taken, logged in by the Middlesex sheriff's office, and sent out for destruction. The Police Department will also take ammunition that is in a box. No loose ammunition will be accepted.

Residents who turn in their weapons will receive a gift card to a local merchant.