The three host churches for this weekend’s buyback include the Word of Life Christian Worship Center at 425 North 6th Street in Vineland, the Cornerstone Community Church at 1200 North High Street in Millville, and the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 186 East Commerce Street in Bridgeton.

Between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday and again on Saturday, Cumberland County residents can turn in a maximum of three firearms of any type “no questions asked” and receive up to $250 per weapon.  Police officers will be stationed at the three churches to collect and secure the guns.  The Attorney General’s Office is paying for the buyback with criminal forfeiture funds provided by its Division of Criminal Justice. The Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office is contributing forfeiture monies as well.

“As we all recognize, there are just too many firearms circulating out there and too many innocent people dying or being critically wounded,” Attorney General Chiesa said.   “I urge the residents of Cumberland County to join us in making communities safer by coming out the first weekend in June and selling back their firearms.”

“I would like to thank the Attorney General for bringing the Gun Buyback program to Cumberland County,” said Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae.   “I’d also like to thank our law enforcement and community partners.  Their collaborative support directly serves to make Cumberland County a stronger, safer place to live.“

Added Prosecutor Webb-McRae, “I encourage the public to spread the word about this very important program.  Every firearm that is turned in is a weapon that will never harm another by falling into the wrong hands.”

 This weekend’s gun buyback – the seventh state-led “Guns for Cash” buyback event since last December -- is a cooperative effort involving the Attorney General’s Office, the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the state Division of Criminal Justice, the New Jersey State Police in Bridgeton and Port Norris, the Vineland, Millville and Bridgeton police departments, and the faith-based community in Cumberland County.

Attorney General Chiesa thanked the Word of Life Christian Worship Center, the Cornerstone Community Church and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for hosting the Cumberland County gun buyback, and urged residents to take advantage of this two-day opportunity to earn extra money by turning in their firearms.

Chiesa also urged residents to use extreme caution in transporting their weapons.

Under state law,  guns must be transported unloaded and secured in a closed and fastened case, gun box or securely tied package, or be locked in the trunk of the vehicle in which they’re being carried.

To date, more than 10,000 guns – including approximately 5,000 handguns -- have been collected through the state-led gun buybacks. In addition, the buybacks have yielded approximately 1,200 illegal guns – firearms with unlawfully high magazine capacities, or weapons that have been sawed-off or otherwise modified.

 Residents with questions about the gun buyback program can call the Attorney General’s Citizen Services unit at (609) 984-5828 or visit www.nj.gov/guns.

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