If you recently inherited a gun that you cannot use or want to get rid of one that has been sitting around the house, Saturday is the day to safely get rid of the firearm and get a gift card in return.
The Lake County Gun Buy Back will dispose of unwanted firearms or ammunition between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at eight departments across the county. They include Fox Lake, Gurnee, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Lincolnshire, Mundelein, North Chicago and Round Lake Park-Hainesville.
When someone turns in a firearm they receive a $50 gift certificate for a grocery or department store. There is a limit of $100, said North Chicago Deputy Chief Walter Holderbaum. All types of firearms are accepted and it must be unloaded.
"Do not walk into the station with the weapon. A police officer will come out and retrieve the firearm from the trunk," he said. The weapon should be in a non accessible part of the vehicle like the trunk.
"If someone is unable to come, then contact us and we will send an officer to go get the weapon," said Holderbaum.
All the sponsoring departments offer those services. Andy Anderson, executive director of Lake County Crime Stoppers, said the program is not against guns. They are simply giving an incentive to people who no longer want a weapon in their house and have an opportunity to get rid of it safely.
"If we have saved one life or a major injury to a person, then we've succeeded in what we wanted to do," said Anderson.
The program started in 2001 and took in 408 guns. The next year saw 478, and in 2003 there were 205. The program started up again in 2005 and 244 guns were collected, from a flint lock pistol to a shot gun with a bent barrel. A total of 1,091 guns have been disposed of since the program began. All the guns are destroyed.
The locations for turning in guns are Fox Lake, 301 S. Route 59, (847) 587-3100; Gurnee, 100 North O'Plaine Road, (847) 599-7000; Lake Forest, 255 Deerpath Road, (847) 615-4253; Lake Zurich, 200 Mohawk Trail, (847) 719-1690; Lincolnshire, One Olde Half Day Road, (847) 883-9900; Mundelein, 221 N. Lake Street, (847) 968-4600, North Chicago, 1850 Lewis Avenue, (847) 596-8700; and Round Lake Park-Hainesville, 215 E. Main Street, Round Lake Park, (847) 546-7275.
I know the holidays are coming up...so I just wanted to let you guys know about how the goverment is helping people out.
Sounds like a stupid ploy for anti-gun retards to 'purify' America, one county at a time. Why do they think that they are saving lives? Guns prevent lives from being lost. Who in there right mind would invade a house if they know the owners possess guns?
If you have any cheap !!! guns, I'd turn them in. But only because 100 free bucks ain't bad.
My God,
The libs just love spending $$! The City of New Haven, CT; yes, the liberal haven known as YALE is located there, presently has a gun tirn in program ..get $100 gift certificate....I was thinking of turning in my Rem 550 that is missing parts for the $!
Replace those parts for just a few bucks, you can sell that Rem 550 for $150 minimum! They are collectibles. Now if you had one of those el-cheapo Brazilian-made single-shot scatterguns, a $100 GC would be good!
These "buy back" programs (silly name!) are stupid. They collect old junkers, broken guns, Gramps' old squirrel rifle, and the occasional toy gun. Y'all honestly think a criminal would pawn the tool of his profession for a gift certificate? These things do nothing for crime reduction, and really don't enhance 'public safety'. There is also the question of legality. Who is taking the guns? Are they properly authorised as dealers to receive firearms? Any FFL involved? Will a rare good gun wind up in some officer's private collection?
There are far better ways to dispose of firearms.
LIke I have said in the past take an old non shooter and trade it for fifty -- I did that once with a parts piece and got 50 and then went to a show the same day and with that and 250 extra I bought a bunch of Lorcin junk piles and turned in 12 at 50 each and then paid for a new Sig 220
Turn in a firearm, get a $50 gift certificate 
