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Gun buyback in Rochester nets 270 guns including 20 assault rifles

Some of the guns turned in at at gun buyback event in Rochester on 5/26/21
Office of the NY Attorney General
Some of the guns turned in at at gun buyback event in Rochester on 5/26/21

A gun buyback event at the Church of Love Faith Center in Rochester this week took in 270 firearms including 20 assault rifles, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office hosted the gun buyback along with the Rochester Police Department Wednesday.

The event offered gift cards for the firearms that were turned in, no questions asked.

James said that the buyback this week was the largest gun buyback in the history of the attorney general's office.

More of the guns turned in at at gun buyback event in Rochester on 5/26/21
Credit Office of the NY Attorney General
More of the guns turned in at at gun buyback event in Rochester on 5/26/21

James noted that the buyback comes as Rochester has experienced a sharp rise in gun violence.

“With gun violence continuing to plague our communities, it is essential that these dangerous firearms are now off our streets and out of our homes,” James said, adding the gun buyback program is one of the critical components in the effort to keep weapons from falling into the wrong hands.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.