Bloomington Gun Buyback collects over 200 guns

PEORIA (25News Now) - Bloomington Police Department’s Gun Buyback event gathered 217 guns on Sunday.

The event was the first of its kind in the city.

Those wishing to trade in their guns, with no questions asked, could receive cash payouts. The payouts were limited to four firearms per vehicle.

The event was made possible through a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The grant allowed Bloomington Police to offer $200 for handguns, rifles, or shotguns, $400 for ghost guns, and $500 for assault weapons.

“We had $50,000 for cash payouts for these firearms. We received a total of 70 handguns, 66 rifles, 56 shotguns, and 25 firearms that are classified in Illinois as assault weapons,” said Bloomington Police Department’s Public Information Officer Bryce Janssen.

Janssen said police also received four untraceable “ghost” guns.

All the guns will be taken to a recycling facility to be broken down and destroyed.

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