Hank Silverberg, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Fairfax County is working on a formal gun give-back program to get unwanted weapons off the streets.
Over the years, Fairfax County police have taken in handguns, antique rifles and even a cannon ball from people who brought them in voluntarily.
But Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sharon Bulova says the shootings in Newtown, Conn., and other gun violence have convinced her the gun givebacks need to be expanded.
“If someone has something in their home or on their property that they would like to turn in, we have a way of people being able to do that,” says Bulova.
She says the county may set up several formal gun giveback days each year.
But a spokeswoman for the county police says there needs to be a formal policy on such events and a decision needs to be made about what happens to the guns before the police department could start any formal program.
It could take a few weeks to set up a formal system. The county plans to post all the information on the Fairfax County Police Department website when it is ready.
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- Officials talk guns, hold buybacks after shootings
- Fairfax teachers say no to guns in schools
- More Newtown News
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