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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the Attorney General’s Office. April 3, 2018:

Four years since White Plains held its first Gun Buy Back on March 23, 2014( where 94 guns were turned in by the public,) the state has decided to hold a second Gun Buy Back event.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is sponsoring the second buy back in collaboration with the City of White Plains Department of Public Safety, Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino Jr.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 13 at the Mount Hope AME Zion Church, 65 Lake St. in White Plains.

Ninety four guns were turned in by the public at large in four hours that morning of the first Gun Buy Back,  ( no questions asked). The citizens were paid a total $5,075 for the guns from state (crime) forfeiture funds.

Assistant Attorney General Gary Brown, (above) then in charge of the Attorney General’s Westchester Office said 54 handguns all in working, firing condition, were purchased back and 40 rifles, including shotguns and military weapons were turned in.

Mr. Brown said the event was a success.. Brown told WPCNR the majority of persons turning in guns were over 40 years old. Many, he said, had had the guns in their possession for years and were pleased to get them out of their possession.

Mayor Thomas Roach of White Plains in a news conference back on that day March 23,  said his office worked with the Attorney General Office to set up this morning’s gun buy back, but had no idea what to expect. “When I  arrived about 9:30, there were 40 people sitting down waiting to turn in guns.”

By 10: 30, 80 guns had been turned in for cash payments in the form of debit cards. The guns were turned in and no names were recorded.

White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong called the White Plains Gun Buy Back a “success,” and hoped, working with agents and the attorney generals office, that another White Plains Buy Back could be arranged.

Commissioner Chong  (left) pointed out the vast array of pistols to Mayor Roach(center),  what he called “easily concealable handguns” as now being weapons that could not be stolen out of persons homes and possibly used in a crime.  Assistant Attorney General Gary Brown stands at the far right.

Chong singled out a very realistic looking assault weapon replica that fired multiple rounds of BBs, which he said “sadly is available to the public.” He said such a gun ( a working replica of an assault rifle) could lead to an unfortunate incident and regretted such a working replica was available for sale to the general public, and did not have to be licensed.

Here is how the April 13 Buy Back will work:

Payment will be made by debit card on site.

The following are the types of weapon and the amount of the debit card:

• Non-working and antique firearms: $25
• Rifles and shotguns: $75
• Handguns: $100
• Assault Weapons: $150

Here is the procedure to turn in a gun at the drop off site: Weapons must be unloaded and placed in a plastic or paper bag or box and transported to the site in the vehicle’s trunk.

After the unloaded gun is examined by police officers, the debit card will be issued in the appropriate amount.

People can drop off as many weapons as they wish, but licensed gun dealers and active or retired law enforcement officers are not eligible for this program.

No identification is necessary to drop off a gun, because, organizers said this is an amnesty program and no questions will be asked of the person dropping off the firearm.

Parking is available on site.