Gun owners can turn in unwanted guns to Rockville City Police on Nov. 7 through a buyback program that last year collected more than 300 firearms.

Police won’t require identification or ask questions of participants, said prosecutors from the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, which is co-sponsoring the buyback program, the fifth annual.

“Every gun turned in is one less in our community that could be used intentionally or accidentally to harm someone,” said Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

Guns can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at RedGate Park, 14500 Avery Road.

Advertise with us

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.

Gift cards will be distributed until supplies run out, prosecutors said.

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. All guns must be unloaded and placed, before arrival, in drivers’ trunks, from which officers will collect them.

The City of Rockville said in a statement that the event can help reduce guns used in serious crimes, suicides, domestic violence incidents or accidental discharges.

All guns collected at the event will be destroyed unless police find out that that they are stolen, in which case they’ll be given to the department that reported them stolen.

Advertise with us

Last year, Rockville police collected 303 guns and gave out nearly $24,000 in gift cards.

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.