Police say the gun buyback event held on Saturday in Waukegan, which offered $100 to residents who turned in guns, was a “huge success” with over 100 guns collected.
The Waukegan Police Department said they partnered with The Archdiocese of Chicago and Most Blessed Trinity Parish to host the event.
Officials say the goal of the partnership was to purchase excess firearms from the community to increase public safety.
Shootings have steadily increased since early 2020 throughout Lake County and the Chicagoland area, police said.
“We, in the Archdiocese of Chicago, know all too well how guns can ravage our communities, whether the daily violence plaguing city neighborhoods or the still-healing scars of last July’s mass shooting in Highland Park,” Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, said.
“Rather than allow ourselves to despair in the face of this mounting death toll, we must do as Pope Francis has asked and continue the work of eliminating gun violence by building a culture of peace,” Cupich said.
The event was held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Most Blessed Trinity Parish, 450 Keller Avenue in Waukegan.
Local residents who brought functioning firearms to the event received $100 cash with no questions asked.
Non-functioning guns as well as replicas and pellet guns were purchased for $25 cash.
Police said the event was a “huge success” and the line of cars never died down despite the rain.
107 functional firearms and 59 replica or pellet guns were turned in for a total of 166 guns recovered. All guns will be destroyed, police said.
“We would like to thank Most Blessed Trinity Parish, the Archdiocese of Chicago, WPD personnel, and all those who participated today to turn in firearms in a safe and responsible manner. Thank you Waukegan!” the department said.