Metro Denver gun buyback sees a hefty haul

Gun buyback drives in the Denver metro area have collected at least 450 firearms since first launching in March, Axios Denver has learned.

Why it matters: Data shows gun-related injuries are among the leading causes of death for youth, Axios' Jacob Knutson writes, citing an analysis of CDC data published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

• That figure includes suicides, homicides, unintentional and undetermined gun deaths.

Driving the news: Denver City Council member Amanda Sawyer partnered with Aurora City Council member Curtis Gardner to host the events — which, together with the company RAWtools, turn dismantled guns into gardening tools.

• The next event, happening this Saturday at the Park Hill Golf Course, will be the fifth in as many months, and will run from 10am to 1pm.
• At least 450 guns have been collected since the first drive in March, Sawyer told Axios Denver.

By the numbers: People who voluntarily turn over guns get Visa gift cards in exchange, and the firearms are destroyed onsite.

Attendees can expect:

• $50 for single shot or non-semiautomatic rifles
• $150 for handguns and semiautomatic rifles
• $250 for assault-style rifles (determination made onsite)

Of note: BB, airsoft, homemade and ghost guns can be destroyed, but their owners aren't compensated for them.

What they're saying: "What we see up in East Colfax is that crime doesn't stop at Yosemite [Street] just because Denver does," Sawyer told Axios Denver.

• Sawyer said it's crucial to make the program a regional effort. The first buyback was held at the Empower Field parking lot in partnership with the Denver Broncos on March 19.
• Buybacks are anonymous, though Sawyer said people can respond to a questionnaire. Unlike similar events, the gun buybacks in Denver and Aurora aren't hosted by local law enforcement — another important factor which Sawyer said helps people feel more comfortable with the transaction.

The big picture: Sawyer said she doesn't expect criminals to hand guns over at these events; instead, she said it allows adults to remove guns from their homes to avoid accidents and ensure an unused firearm doesn't end up in the wrong hands.

• An event in Salt Lake City hosted by police collected 103 guns this month, Axios' Kim Bojórquez reports.

The other side: Studies indicate that gun buybacks have mixed results, with one report suggesting most collect under 1,000 guns — not enough to have an impact on possible criminal activity.