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The San José Police Department is pleased to announce its upcoming Gun Buy Back Event, set to take place on December 6, 2025, at the San José Police Department Substation. This community-driven initiative aims to enhance public safety by providing a secure and anonymous opportunity for individuals to turn in firearms they no longer want or need.
The event will run from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. and is open to all residents of Santa Clara County. Participants are encouraged to bring any unwanted firearms, including handguns, rifles, shotguns, and assault weapons. To ensure a safer community, individuals can turn in their firearms with no questions asked and without fear of legal repercussions.
“Every firearm turned in through the Gun Buy Back program potentially represents one less tragedy in our community. This initiative helps remove unwanted or unsecured guns from homes, reducing the risk of accidental shootings, theft, and misuse. Our goal is simple: keep our neighborhoods safe and protect lives. By participating, residents are taking an active role in promoting responsibility and safety across our city,” said San José Chief of Police Paul Joseph.
“Every dusty, old, unwanted gun is a potential suicide, murder, or accident, waiting to happen," said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen. "With this buyback, we can prevent that. Let’s all work together to make our community safer – one gun at a time.”
“You have the right to own a gun – but you should also have the opportunity to relinquish it, no questions asked,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “I want to thank our Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office for giving our residents that opportunity — because every firearm we get off our streets is one less that can be stolen, misused, or involved in a tragedy. Events like this showcase how much our community trusts our local law enforcement agencies, which is why San Jose was just rated as the safest big city in the nation once again.”
“As County leaders, we are committed to community violence prevention efforts and addressing the root causes of violence that disproportionately impact Brown and Black communities in our County, ” said County Board Vice President Sylvia Arenas, District 1. “Taking unwanted guns – including assault-style rifles and ghost guns – off of our streets save lives by preventing suicide and senseless violence,” said County Board President Otto Lee, District 3.
"Since 2019, local buybacks have taken nearly 2,000 guns out of our neighborhoods. That’s 2,000 fewer guns at risk of falling into the wrong hands and being used to harm our residents. December’s gun buyback is a model for what happens when the City, the County, and our law enforcement agencies work together to build safer communities for families across San Jose – because every gun taken off our streets could save many lives in the long run," stated San José City Vice Mayor Pam Foley and Councilmembers Anthony Tordillos, Rosemary Kamei, Pamela Campos, David Cohen, Domingo Candelas, and George Casey.
Participants will receive a cash incentive in exchange for turning in their firearms. The compensation amount will vary depending on the type of firearm, as determined by law enforcement professionals onsite. Handguns, rifles, and shotguns will be exchanged for 100 dollars and assault weapons will be exchanged for 200 dollars. Additionally, non-functional firearms and ammunition can also be turned in for proper disposal.
It is important to note that all firearms collected during this event will be properly and safely destroyed. This initiative serves as a proactive measure to ensure that these firearms do not find their way back into circulation illegally, preventing accidents, and reducing the risk of impulsive acts of self-harm.
The Gun Buy Back Event at the San José Police Substation is organized in partnership with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, the Offices of Supervisor Otto Lee and Supervisor Sylvia Arenas, with strong support from San José City Mayor Matt Mahan, Vice Mayor Pam Foley, Councilmembers Anthony Tordillos, Pamela Campos, Rosemary Kamei, David Cohen, Michael Mulcahy, Domingo Candelas, George Casey, Kaiser Permanente, San Jose Sharks Community Fund and the City of San José. The collaboration among these entities is a testament to their unified commitment to public safety and reducing gun violence.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office will be distributing gun locks at the event while supplies last. Gun locks are crucial for safe gun storage. They will also be handing out information on proper firearm storage and gun violence restraining orders, as well as mental health and suicide prevention, resources from the County Behavioral Health Services Department.
Santa Clara County residents are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to help make our community safer. We encourage individuals to spread the word about this event and invite their friends, family, and neighbors to participate.
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