The Police Department will buy back guns from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 11–12 at the Oppenheimer Pavilion at Hawksnest Beach. It’s located on the North Shore Road east of the main Hawksnest Beach.
Acting Police Commissioner Raymond L. Hyndman and St. John Deputy Chief Darren Foy said the program is part of the continuing effort of the department to get illegal weapons off the streets. Police previously bought back guns in St. Thomas and St. Croix.
“I am asking all St. John residents to participate in this program, get some extra cash and rid St. John of all the deadly weapons. This is your opportunity to make a difference,” Deputy Police Chief Darren Foy said.
He urged people with guns they don’t use to bring them in because they could be stolen if their house is burglarized.
“These are guns off the streets,” he said.
According to Foy, there is no penalty for turning in weapons.
People turning in weapons need to safely transport the guns to the site. Weapons should be placed in a bag and put into the trunk of your car. If you are unfamiliar with weapons do not try to unload it or tamper with it in anyway, Foy said.
There will be amnesty for persons traveling with weapons as long as they travel a direct route from their home to the drop off point. Once you arrive at the site, an officer will take possession of your weapon and hand it over to a firearms examiner, and a property officer who will inspect the weapon and determine the amount of money that will be paid for the weapon.
Foy said the department will pay “top dollars” for the weapons.
No questions will be asked of the person turning in the weapon.
Police are encouraging residents with weapons in their homes to turn them in at this time. Additionally, if residents have a weapon in their home that was previously owned by someone who is deceased or has left the home, they should turn it in.
The cash for guns was made possible by an anonymous St. Thomas donor who contacted Sen. Shawn Michael Malone.
