Stamford Police Seek to Collect More Weapons, Violent Video Games

In August of 2012, Stamford was facing a spat of gun violence that spanned a couple months, claimed multiple lives and left even more injured. With record highs in gun purchases and concealed carry applications, The city's streets were seemingly flooding with guns.

In December of that same year, Stamford police and community groups hosted the first Gun Buy-Back program in the city in 11 years. In 2001, the last time the city had engaged in a similar program, they removed 67 guns from the street. In December 2012 across 2 different buy-back opportunities, they took in, in total, two shotguns, five rifles, nine pistols and 14 revolvers. They held a third event in January of this year.

Now, the Stamford Police Department, the Stamford Police Association and the New Hope Apostolic Church will team up to host yet another installment on Dec. 14, 2013, the one-year anniversary of the tragedy in Fairfield County's own Newtown. On Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the police will be buying back guns at their headquarters at 805 Bedford Street.

"The purpose of the program is to provide individuals with a safe and legal way to dispose of unwanted firearms and ammunition from homes and businesses before they can inflict an accidental injury or be stolen and used in a crime," said Officer Joseph Steyer in a release. "The department will accept both operational and non-operational firearms and other types of dangerous weapons along with ammunition carry cases and holsters."

Qualified individuals will receive gift cards valued between $50 to $150 depending on the type of operational firearm turned over, and the department will also be accepting violent video games, movies and software and even knifes and other sharp weapons.

"The department will also accept other dangerous weapons, such as knifes, swords, spears along with violent video games, movies and computer software from anyone who would like to remove these items from their homes or businesses," the department posted on its Facebook page. "We know people and especially children are affected by watching and playing violent media and this is an opportunity to dispose of the items."

Rules and restrictions for the program are as follows:

• All firearms must be unloaded
• Weapons should be transported in a vehicle’s trunk
• If carrying by hand, place the firearm in a bag or a box
• Ammunitions should be transported in a container separate from any firearm
• The program is open to both Stamford residents and non-residents
• Businesses & Gun Dealers do not qualify
• Firearms considered to be junk will not be accepted