The Evanston Police Department will host its gun buyback event in December in collaboration with the Evanston Community Foundation and Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Celebrating its decade-long tradition, the event will take place on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1113 Clark Street. Police department officials believe the church’s collaboration offers the perfect venue and is crucial to the event.
“Our partnership with area houses of worship has also been essential to making these events a success, as it provides a safe, neutral space for those turning-in weapons,” Evanston Police Sergeant Chelsea Brown said.
Brown said the event was a success in previous years, including last year when EPD collected and disposed of 53 guns.
The event is centered on keeping guns off Evanston’s streets, especially by ensuring weapons don’t get into criminal circulation.
“One of the goals of gun buybacks is to give those that have unwanted firearms a chance to dispose of them,” Evanston Police Commander Ryan Glew said. “An unwanted firearm could be stolen or lost. When (guns are) stolen or lost, it can get into criminal circulation.”
Weapons given up at the event should be unloaded and transported in a case, box, bag or vehicle truck, EPD said in a news release. It also said people will be served on a first-come, first-served basis.
Residents from Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette and Chicago’s North Side are allowed to participate as long as they show identification at the door. Those who donate will be compensated $125 per gun and $30 for ammunition and BB guns, according to the news release. Brown said the money being paid to those turning in guns and ammunition comes from private donations via the Evanston Community Foundation.
Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
