“Gun violence is not rare in this country. In fact, it is now the leading cause of death of our children. There is something inherently wrong,” Mendenhall said in a news release. “Buy-back programs have been very successful in other areas of the country recently and are a tremendous option for gun owners interested in safely disposing of their unwanted firearms. This program is an incentive that will help us take guns out of circulation.”

Gun buy-back program

Individuals will be able to sell back firearms at the Public Safety Building on Saturday, June 11. The location is 475 South 300 East in Salt Lake City. A $50 gift card will be provided for firearms, and a $100 gift card will be provided for assault-style weapons. 

According to the Pew Research Center, gun violence in the U.S. in 2020 alone accounted for 45,000 deaths. That is by far the most on record, according to the news release, representing a 14% increase from the year before. It’s also a 25% increase from five years earlier and a 43% increase from a decade prior.

“Over the years, there have been far too many acts of gun violence in our community. The Salt Lake City Police Department is committed to preventing gun crimes. And to making our neighborhoods safer,” said Salt Lake City Police Capt. Charli Goodman in the news release. “We continue to work with our federal partners, and receive training from them, to aggressively investigate and prosecute gun crimes when they do occur. This gun buy-back program is an effort to get guns off our streets and out of homes where the gun is no longer wanted.”

For more information on the program, click here. 

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