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The Albany County Sheriff's Office is hosting a gun buyback event today (September 25) at the former Saint Rose campus in Albany. The event will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and aims to reduce gun violence by encouraging residents to surrender their firearms.
According to Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple Sr., the event is part of the PEACE (Preventing Endangerment & Criminal Exposure) initiative, which is a collaborative effort with the County Executive, Legislature, and District Attorney, supported by a donation from the Morrell Family. The buyback program is designed to be mobile, targeting areas with high rates of gun violence and neighborhoods that may not have access to traditional buyback events.
Participants can turn in their operable firearms anonymously and will receive pre-paid Mastercard gift cards in exchange. The sheriff's office emphasizes that this is a no questions asked event, and all surrendered firearms will be processed by law enforcement. Sheriff Apple noted that the goal is to remove illegal guns from the streets and reduce gun-related incidents in the community.
This event is part of a series of gun buyback programs planned for Albany County, with future events scheduled every 10 to 14 days. The initiative aims to reach gun violence hotspots and provide opportunities for residents to safely dispose of firearms.