New Mexico State Police Coordinate 2nd Gun Buyback Event To Promote Safety And Reduce Violence

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 7, 2024
- 10:18 am

Scene from New Mexico State Police (NMSP) 2nd Gun Buyback event Saturday Española, Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Farmington. Courtesy/NMSP

Scene from NMSP 2nd Gun Buyback event Saturday Española, Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Farmington. Courtesy/NMSP

NMSP News:

The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) coordinated a 2nd Gun Buyback event Saturday, Jan. 6 in Española, Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Farmington.

People voluntarily and anonymously handed in unwanted firearms and received Visa gift cards in return. Buybacks are intended to prevent unwanted guns from causing harm or being used to commit acts of violence.

NMSP collected a total of 1,289 guns from all four locations:

Española collected 27 handguns and 64 rifles and/or shotguns;
Albuquerque collected 150 handguns and 422 rifles and/or shotguns;
Las Cruces collected 136 handguns and 307 rifles and/or shotguns; and
Farmington collected 42 handguns and 108 rifles and/or shotguns.
A total of 33 donated guns were turned in for the entire event.
Out of 1,289 guns collected, 10 were reported as stolen.

“This was another proactive event where people could voluntarily turn in unwanted guns as a means to help minimize gun violence, reduce suicides, accidental deaths, and injuries where guns are involved,” NMSP Chief Troy Weisler said. “State Police is committed to safeguarding every community we serve, and as such, we will continue to utilize every resource we have to reduce gun violence.”

Scene from NMSP 2nd Gun Buyback event Saturday Española, Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Farmington. Courtesy/NMSP