Utica Police Hold Gun Buy Back Event

Local residents were able to get rid of their unwanted guns On Tuesday, and get paid for them.

The Utica Police Department held a Community Gun Buy Back event at the Parkway Rec Center.

The gun buy back was held in conjunction with the New York State Attorney General's Office.

Patricia Bordonaro is Assistant Attorney General with the Utica office.

Bordonaro says the effort is not to stamp out crime, but rather to get guns off the streets or out of people's homes.  She says those guns could potentially be used in a criminal act or accidentally by people who have them lying around.

$25 was paid for non-working or antique firearms, $50  for rifles and shotguns, $75 for handguns and $100 for assault weapons.

The AG's Office says a total of 169 guns were turned in.

That number includes 5 assault weapons; 81 handguns; 60 rifles; 12 shotguns and 11 non-working or antique guns.