Watertown Gun Buyback Collects 50 Guns, Plus Ammunition

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Members of the Watertown Police, the MIddlesex Sheriff's Office and the State Police pose with the 50 weapons collected in the gun buyback.

Watertown Police

Members of the Watertown Police, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office and the State Police pose with the 50 weapons collected in the gun buyback.

The first ever Watertown gun buyback brought in many weapons – including an assault rifle – along with some ammunition on Saturday. 

Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn was pleased with the event, which took place at First Parish Church, in conjunction with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police.

“It went very well,” Lawn said. “We collected 50  guns and a bunch of ammunition. One of the guns was a AR-15 assault rifle.”

The AR-15 is similar to the one used in the nightclub shooting in Orlando.

The event was a collaboration with other communities, and Watertown had one of the most successful buybacks so far. Last week, three communities – Belmont, Cambridge and Arlington – collected a combined 65 guns, according to the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office.

The weapons collected will be destroyed.

An AR-15 assault rifle, in front, was among the weapons brought to Watertown gun buyback on Saturday.

Watertown Police

An AR-15 assault rifle, in front, was among the weapons brought to Watertown gun buyback on Saturday.

Those who brought in guns were not asked for IDs or asked any questions. They received gift cards to Stop & Shop, which were provided by the Watertown Police Foundation.

Other local groups sponsored the event, including: First Parish Church, Watertown Community Foundation and World in Watertown.

Lawn said the Watertown Police will hold another gun buyback at some point, but he is not sure if it will be an annual event, every two years, or some other period.

People who could not attend the Watertown event can bring guns to a buyback in Somerville on Saturday, June 25 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Somerville Department of Public Works, 1 Franey Road, Somerville.

The fire arms should be brought in unloaded with the safety engaged in a bag, box or case. They should be placed in an otherwise empty car trunk.

5 thoughts on “Watertown Gun Buyback Collects 50 Guns, Plus Ammunition

  1. Congratulations WPD! This is really terrific and I appreciate your efforts. I would happily support (through financial contributions or other efforts) whatever is needed to make this an annual event. THANK YOU!

  2. Truly sad.. hopefully the Police Officers weren’t on the clock when they participated in anyway with this insanity. Very sad to see citizens surrendering their last line defense from tyranny ..

    • Tyranny? From the govt YOU elected? And presumably enforced by your brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers that make up your armed forces? Time to make up another pathetic excuse to keep your AR15 mate..

  3. Gun violence is an epidemic. What a wonderful program this is for those who want gun safety and to divest themselves of guns for any reason at all. Thank you to the Watertown Police and Chief Lawn, the Sheriff’s Office, and the State Police and also the Police Foundation, World in Watertown, and the host, The First Parish Church. Congratulations.
    Barbara Ruskin

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