Gun Buyback Program, April 26 to May 17, 2019, Toronto residents compensated for ridding homes of guns

Gun Buyback Program, April 26 to May 17, 2019, Toronto residents compensated for ridding homes of guns

Friday, April 26, 2019 - 10:45 AM
Office of the Chief:  416-808-8000

The Toronto Police Service is buying back unwanted guns from Toronto residents from April 26 to May 17, 2019.

The buyback program helps Torontonians keep their city safe by having police pick up unwanted guns that have been inherited or are no longer used and often stored unsafely.

In July 2018, Toronto City Council adopted the Immediate Steps to Address Gun Violence report, which included a Council decision to establish a gun buyback program. The City of Toronto is funding this program.

Any Toronto resident who wishes to have police pick up a registered or unregistered gun from their home for destruction will be compensated with $200 for a long gun and $350 for a handgun. Residents who turn over guns to police for destruction will not face a charge for possessing or unsafely storing a firearm.

Residents should not bring guns to a police station or City facility.

To participate, call the Toronto Police Service non-emergency line at 416-808-2222 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and an officer will visit your home to pick up the gun.

For more information, visit tps.on.ca/buyback.

Chief Mark Saunders and Mayor John Tory launched the three-week program at Toronto Police Service Headquarters on April 26, 2019.

"This is a great opportunity for Torontonians to get rid of unwanted guns from their homes that present a potential danger if they fall into the wrong hands,"
Chief Mark Saunders said. "These guns can be stolen in a break and enter and sold on the streets."

"Gun violence remains a serious concern for both the community and law enforcement. We know ending gun violence will take a variety of measures – there is no one magic answer," said Mayor John Tory. "Every gun surrendered is one less gun in our community. One less gun potentially available to people who want to cause mayhem in our city."

Kevin Masterman, Corporate Communications, for Chief Mark Saunders