When gift-card-for-gun project 'fired off' in  New York

New York's landmark gun buyback programme was a success. Across the state, more than 3,000 guns, including various assault-style rifles and "ghost guns", were surrendered

How the buyback worked

In exchange for the guns, participants received gift cards worth hundreds of dollars.

Who organised it?

The programme was organised by New York Attorney General, Letitia James' office. She described the gun buyback programme as a "landmark event."

Here's how much guns were worth at the buyback

Assault-type rifles

For turning in assault-type rifles and untraceable "ghost guns," people were given $500 gift cards.

Handguns

People turning over handguns also received $500 gift cards. Every additional handgun was worth an additional $150

Rifles

Other types of rifles and shotguns received $75 gift cards

3D-printed guns

3D-printed guns, non-working replicas, and antiques were worth $25 cards each

Gun epidemic

Ben Walsh, Syracuse Mayor, as per an ABC News report, said: "There are too many damn guns in this country. They’re everywhere"

Where was the event held?

New York hosted the buyback programme at nine different locations; two of them in New York City 

How many guns were submitted?

Overall more than 3,000. In Brooklyn, within the first hour of opening, officials reported having received 90 guns.

Record numbers

In Syracuse, 751 firearms were surrendered. The first four months of 2023 have already witnessed a whopping 133% jump in homicides, compared to the same period last year.

Lives saved

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said that "each and every one of these guns is a potential life saved and a non-fatal shooting avoided"