Rockville Gun Buyback Returns to RedGate Park on November 7, With Gift Cards and No Questions Asked

Gun owners can turn in unwanted guns to Rockville City Police on Saturday, November 7, through a buyback program that last year collected more than 300 firearms, The Banner reported. Police will not require identification or ask questions of participants, according to prosecutors from the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office, which is co-sponsoring the program, now in its fifth year.

"Every gun turned in is one less in our community that could be used intentionally or accidentally to harm someone," Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy said, according to The Banner. Guns can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at RedGate Park, 14500 Avery Road in Rockville. Participants will receive a $100 Visa gift card for working handguns, rifles, shotguns and privately made firearms, and a $200 Visa gift card for functioning assault weapons, with gift cards distributed until supplies run out.

Participants must drive to the event and stay in their cars; people who walk their guns to the event will not be allowed to take part, The Banner reported. All guns must be unloaded and placed, before arrival, in the driver's trunk, from which officers will collect them. All guns collected will be destroyed unless police find they are stolen, in which case they will be given to the department that reported them stolen.

Last year, Rockville police collected 303 guns and gave out nearly $24,000 in gift cards, The Banner reported. Since 2022, more than 1,000 guns have been collected through the program, including 266 in 2022, 228 in 2023 and 284 in 2024, according to police. The City of Rockville said the event can help reduce guns used in serious crimes, suicides, domestic violence incidents or accidental discharges.