Just in time for the holidays, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and the New York Police Department (NYPD) are offering US$500 for guns in a Gun Buyback event that will be held next Saturday (December 17) at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

The unprecedented sum will be given to anyone who turns in an operable gun or an assault rifle, no questions asked. In addition, US$150 will be paid for any rifle or shotgun, and US$50 for a BB gun or an imitation pistol.

No identification will be required.

“Getting guns off the streets is a shared responsibility and Saturday’s Gun Buyback event is part of my Office’s comprehensive strategy to reduce gun violence in our neighborhoods,” explained Gonzalez.

Said the 53-year-old prosecutor: “I encourage anyone who may have a firearm in their home – or knows someone who does – to take advantage of this opportunity and get a substantial sum of money in time for the holidays. I would like to thank the NYPD, business leaders and the community-based organisations who are partnering with us to make this event a success.”

The buyback will held at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 574 Madison Ave. in Brooklyn, from 10 am to 4 pm. Those who bring guns are asked to carry them inside a bag or a box.

There is no limit on the number of guns that can be surrendered in exchange for cash in the form of pre-paid cards. Additional information is available by calling 646-610-5323.