by Steve Klitzman
The Davis Center has donated $1000 to the first ever faith-based gun “buyback” in upper Montgomery County on April 20, 2024 in Germantown, MD. This section of the county has seen a recent uptick in gun violence.
The buyback is being organized by the DC Area Interfaith Gun Violence Prevention Network (of which Temple Sinai was a founding member in 2017 with the GVP Ministry of the Washington National Cathedral). The buyback is also co-sponsored by Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence and is supported and endorsed by the Montgomery County Offices of the Sheriff and State’s Attorney. This buyback follows successful gun buybacks held since summer 2023 in Baltimore, Rockville, and Upper Marlboro, MD.
As of April 4, the April 20, 2024 buyback has raised over $25,399, more than 80% of its goal of $30,000. The buyback will use this money to purchase Giant food gift cards for gun owners turning in their guns on April 20. At this “goods for guns” event, gun owners can anonymously and voluntarily turn in their functional firearms in exchange gift cards. Specifically, gun owners will receive a $100 gift card for their working handguns, pistols, rifles and shotguns, and $200 in gift cards for their military-style assault weapons and privately manufactured “ghost guns”.
The buyback will accept the firearms with no identification requested and a “no questions asked” policy by law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office will inspect, record serial numbers, disassemble and store all qualified guns. The Network volunteers will then distribute the appropriate number of gift cards as well as a comprehensive gun safety brochure produced by Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence.
A controversial, front page New York Times story in December 2023 reported that some police departments conducting gun buybacks destroy only the frame of a gun but not all remaining parts, some of which they sell to makers of ghost gun kits! Maxwell Uy, Sheriff of Montgomery County, has personally assured the Network that all guns surrendered on April 20 “will be completely destroyed” and “no gun components will be re-purposed in any manner.”
The chief aims of the buyback are to:
• raise public awareness and concern about the proliferation of guns in our community and nationwide
• get as many guns off the street and out of peoples’ homes as possible to prevent gun tragedies and
• promote public safety.
Every gun turned in will be one less gun that could be used in a serious crime, homicide, suicide, or domestic violence incident, or accidentally discharged by a child.
This will be an excellent opportunity for a concerned parent or citizen to dispose of an unwanted firearm anonymously, voluntarily and safely, and receive a generous food gift card, or cards in exchange!
The Interfaith GVP Network is a coalition of over 40 churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples in the DMV area most active in gun violence prevention. They meet monthly by Zoom to share and act on GVP information and to be inspired and informed by various guest speakers. In addition to Temple Sinai, network members supporting this gun buyback include the United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley (the site of the Germantown buyback), as well as the Friends Meeting of Washington, Bethesda United Methodist Church, the National United Methodist Church, Pax Christi Metro D.C.-Baltimore, Tifereth Israel, and the Washington National Cathedral.
To make a tax-deductible contribution to the buyback, please click here.