New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that 82 firearms were turned in at a community gun buyback event in Saranac Lake. The event, hosted by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the Saranac Lake Police Department, is part of an ongoing effort to combat gun violence and enhance public safety. Additionally, an extra 180 firearms were collected from a similar event in Amsterdam, totaling 262 guns secured on the day. Since taking office in 2019, Attorney General James has removed over 7,662 guns from New York state.
"Gun buyback events empower local communities to remove unwanted guns, and thereby help address the scourge of gun violence," said Attorney General James. "I thank the Saranac Lake Police Department for their partnership in organizing this event and their commitment to getting additional firearms off the streets and out of this region. Every one of the guns collected today is another potential tragedy averted."
The Saranac Lake event saw 82 guns turned in, including four assault weapons, 41 handguns, and 28 long guns. With today's efforts in Saranac Lake and Amsterdam combined, more than 7,650 guns have been removed from New York communities under Attorney General James' tenure.
"Keeping our community safe is our top priority," said Saranac Lake Police Chief Darin M. Perrotte. "By participating in the gun buyback program, we are not only removing unwanted firearms from circulation but also promoting responsible gun ownership among our residents."