Milwaukee Police Collect About 350 Weapons At Gun Buyback

The Milwaukee Police Department collected about 350 weapons from residents over the weekend as part of a gun buyback program.

People who brought in wrapped and unloaded weapons stood inside a fence while waiting for Milwaukee police to check in their guns and pay the owners with a privately funded bank card. A man who gave his name as Zachary says his .32 caliber pistol was just sitting around the house and was a potential safety hazard: “One of my kids might find it, get it, use it,” he said.

Another gun owner, Joe, says his .22 caliber pistol was just laying around the house and he also feared kids getting ahold of it. Joe says he doesn’t know why state Republicans made it easier to carry a firearm.

“They passed that law about concealed carry,” he said. “I think that’s wrong. They need to get rid of them.”

Also on hand in the predominantly black neighborhood were white gun dealers, who were stopping vehicles and offering to pay more money for weapons than the police were offering. Jeremy from Brown Deer said he just wanted to save guns that had historical value.

“One thing I’m really interested in is pieces of history – weapons from the wars and that kind of thing,” he said.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett criticized the gun buyers for being at the event, but said they had a right to be there.

Several more Milwaukee residents were hit by gunfire on Saturday and police say at least two men died in a triple shooting on Sunday.