Law enforcement officials in western Massachusetts are going to hold a gun buyback program in the greater Springfield area.
Springfield police and the Hampden District Attorney will conduct the county-wide program on March 2nd. Private companies are sponsoring it. People can bring working firearms to the Springfield Police Headquarters, or arrangements can be made to have the weapons picked up. Springfield Police Sergeant John Delaney said a gun can be exchanged for a $50 cash card, which will be doubled for an assault weapon.
A number of cities have held gun buy back programs in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook School shooting. The last gun buy back program in greater Springfield was in 2009, when about 100 firearms were turned in.
