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Stamford Police Count Up Firearms Turned In For Buyback Program

STAMFORD, Conn. -- A menacing-looking Kalashnikov assault rifle lies on a table in police headquarters, but it's not a weapon seized from a drug dealer or a violent criminal. Instead, it's one of 48 firearms handed over to Stamford Police during the gun buyback program this year.

Stamford Police Sgt. Tom Wolff looks over the handguns, rifles and automatic rifles turned in to police as part of the gun buyback program.

Stamford Police Sgt. Tom Wolff looks over the handguns, rifles and automatic rifles turned in to police as part of the gun buyback program.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern
Stamford Police Officer Joseph Steyer, at left, holds a Kalashnikov assault rifle, while Sgt. Tom Wolff holds a pair of handguns.

Stamford Police Officer Joseph Steyer, at left, holds a Kalashnikov assault rifle, while Sgt. Tom Wolff holds a pair of handguns.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern

The weapons range from a tiny, almost toy-like revolver, to the Kalashnikov and three other automatic rifles. But all weapons pose a risk in the wrong hands, Sgt. Tom Wolff said.

"I have an expression that anything that goes 'boom' can be dangerous," Wolff said, pointing to children playing with guns at home. 

The most recent gun buyback was held Saturday, when 16 firearms were surrendered. Individuals handed in three pistols, three revolvers, four rifles and four shotguns. All of the firearms were legally registered.

The next gun buy back program scheduled by Stamford Police will be Oct. 25.

The weapons are handed over to state authorities and destroyed. 

Police Officer Joseph Steyer, gun buyback coordinator, said the program enables people to get rid of weapons they no longer use, or one that someone in the home wants to give up, to police to know they will be disposed of safely. As a reward, gun donors receive a gift card or a cash card.

The card value ranges from $75 for a rifle or shotgun, $100 for a handgun and $150 for an assault rifle.

The owners of assault rifles turn to police because new laws in Connecticut have made possessing such weapons much more difficult, he said. One individual who dropped off an AR-15 assault rifle missed the deadline to register his weapon, Steyer said. They could take them to a gun dealer, but the dealer then has to sell them out of state, he said.

Often, it's simpler and easier for the weapon owner to turn it over to police, even if it means they have lost hundreds of dollars between what they paid for the weapon and the $150 gift card they receive.

The police department began the program in 2012 and held the first gun buy back around the time of the Sandy Hook School shootings, Steyer said. The event had been planned well in advance and just happened to occur at the same time.

The program was led initially by members of the First Congregational Church in Stamford due to their concern about gun violence. Stamford Police worked with the church and continued to support the program through the Stamford Police Foundation. The program relies on monetary donations to keep operating.

Last year, 67 firearms were turned in to Stamford police, and Steyer believes they will exceed that total this year.

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