Houston mayor says 1,208 guns collected in 2nd ‘no questions asked’ gun buyback

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — City leaders held the second “no questions asked” gun buyback event on Saturday.

More than 800 weapons were collected during the city’s inaugural buyback in July, the second time around 1,208 guns were collected.

According to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, 368 revolvers, 279 semi-automatic handguns, 243 shotguns, 227 rifles, and 91 rifle semi-automatics were collected on Saturday.

Turner said it’s the largest gun buyback day in U.S. history.

“We believe this the largest one-day gun buyback collection, if not the largest, in U.S. history,” Turner said.

In exchange, $100,000 worth of gift cards were handed out to those who brought guns.

Gift card funding:

• Non-functioning firearm – $50

• Shotgun or rifle (hunting) – $100

• Revolver, semi-automatic handgun – $150

• Rifle, semi-automatic – $200

Turner told during July’s event, people 3D printed or made guns specifically for the gun buyback program, so this time, no privately manufactured “ghost guns” were accepted.

That wasn’t the only change, there is a 25-firearm limit per vehicle onsite. Anyone with more firearms to trade in had to make separate arrangements by sending an email to COH_POLICING_REFORM@HOUSTONTX.GOV.

Plus, multiple lanes were available to accommodate more cars.

Participants were being asked to unload guns before arrival, store firearms in the trunk of their vehicle, and stay in their vehicle at all times.

Houston police officers at the event opened the trunk to retrieve the weapons.

Andy Davis has lived in Houston his whole life.

He said he didn’t mind waking up early and waiting in line to trade his unwanted guns for gift cards-anything he says, to help the city be safer.

Others spoke to share that same sentiment.

“Just in case you know. They are just laying around and if we do get broken into, that’s just ammunition for criminals to do stuff with them that they don’t need to be doing,” Houstonian April Rhodes said.

“I don’t need them. They could get stolen. I don’t see why you need 7, 8 guns,” Rev. Michael Rainey said.

Although this program has faced criticism, people asking why the 1 million federal dollars spent here couldn’t go towards more officers on the streets.

Some are bothered by the “no questions asked” aspect. However, Turner and Houston Police Department Chief Finner are calling Saturday’s event another success. They said it is not a perfect solution, but one tool they have.

“I’m looking forward to even more gun buybacks. It removes guns off the streets and puts them in safe hands. So that’s a good thing,” Finner said.