As school shootings are continuing, so are people looking for solutions. The King County Sheriff’s Office recently held a gun buyback event in Burien on Saturday. The agency collected 287 firearms and paid out close to $37,000 in gift cards. The Sheriff’s Office also believes these types of programs help prevent “increasing gun violence.”
The agency collected a variety of firearms during the four-hour event. The following is the list of firearms collected:
-11 AR-15/AK-47
-68 Pistols
-46 Revolvers
-70 Shotguns
-75 Rifles (not AR-15)
-Eight Muzzleloading
-Seven Antiques
-Two Other
State lawmakers are working to pass House Bill 1240. It would ban guns considered to be assault weapons from being sold in the state. A local gun seller said his gun store in Bellevue has seen a 400% increase in sales over the past six weeks.
Gun sellers say that the bill that would ban guns considered to be assault weapons from being sold in Washington makes people want to buy more guns. It already passed through the House and passed a Senate committee. If it passes through the full Senate, the ban will go into effect immediately.
There are plans to hold more events throughout the county. King County leaders plan for the program to be permanent and to evolve over time. Anyone who wants to turn in a gun, that can’t make a special event could go into one of the sheriff offices and turn it over there. The ultimate goal is to keep the community safe. The Sheriff’s Office also believes that it’s approach will also reduce gun violence by making sure guns are secured.
