Residents of the City of Allentown can turn-in their unwanted firearms and get a gift card in return. The city will conduct a Gun Buyback Program on Saturday, August 23 from 10am-2pm at The Armory at 15th & Allen streets.

The gun buyback program is a collaborative effort on the part of Mayor Ed Pawlowski and the members of Allentown City Council and is being coordinated by the Allentown Police Department. It is the city’s third gun buyback program in the last three years.

More than 40 weapons were turned in at a gun buyback event in the city last May.

“Residents can rid of unwanted guns in the home safely and properly and get something useful and valuable in return,” said Pawlowski. “I’m very pleased that the members of City Council are partnering with the administration and the police department in this effort.”

The program will be staffed by members of the Allentown Police Department who will be accepting the firearms in exchange for gift cards from K-Mart. A police firearms expert will examine the weapons. Persons intending to turn-in a firearm are requested to produce current photo identification. The firearm should be brought to the location unloaded.

Officers will issue a $100 K-Mart Gift Card for functional weapons, $15 for non-functional weapons and $10 for a BB or Airsoft gun for participating in the event.

The program will take place on Saturday, August 23 rain or shine. Persons taking part in the program are asked not to arrive at the armory before 10am. Parking will be available on the street and in the shopping center across the street from the armory. An APD patrol vehicle and fire police will be present in the lot.

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