Dozens of guns turned in at Watervliet buyback event

WATERVLIET – Forty-nine guns have been taken off Capital Region streets. It’s all thanks to a gun buyback by the attorney general’s office and the Watervliet Police Department.

People exchanged guns for gift cards on Saturday.

Watervliet Police Chief Joseph Centanni says the buyback program is essential to protecting people in exposed situations like children, victims of domestic violence and people battling mental health issues.

"If these events can trigger the thoughts of some people, that may have an antique rifle or their grandfather’s shotgun or an antique pistol, and it kind of gets them thinking, ‘Well, you know what? We can take that and turn it in, and we can remove it from those groups of exposed people,’ then to me, that’s very beneficial," said Centanni.

Hear why the Watervliet mayor says it’s so important his city do its part by watching the video of Sam Hesler’s story.