Gun buyback a success for JSO

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Sheriff John Rutherford said any time officers can take guns off the streets, it keeps guns from potentially ending up in the wrong hands.

Action News was told JSO had collected about 500 guns by noon Saturday.

The event was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Gun owners cashed in their guns for $50.

"The gun buyback has gotten over 2,000 (guns)off the streets in Jacksonville and that is little more than the number that officers will get off the street in an entire year," said Rutherford.

Rutherford said last year JSO collected 2,035 guns with the buyback program. He added they've also collected more than 300 guns from the gun bounty program.

The Delores Barr Weaver Foundation made a special contribution to the buyback as a fundraiser for the Police Athletic League.

Weaver matched $50 for every gun that was collected during the buyback.

"I just wanted to do something different. The thing that brought me to this party of gun buybacks was Sandy Hook, as I've told you before. So why shouldn't kids benefit from what I'm trying to do," said Weaver.

JSO has not released the final numbers from the buyback at this time.

WJAX