Gun buy-back event held in Saranac Lake

SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. (WCAX) - New York officials are getting unwanted guns off the streets.

Miles Manchester drove an hour from Potsdam, New York to Saranac Lake to give up a few of his guns. He bought one of them before state law required background checks , starting last year.

"AK-47, two 30-round magazines and 800 rounds of ammunition from a private seller," Manchester explained of his purchase. "He didn't even ask my name."

Manchester was ready to part with the weapon but worried about reselling into the wrong hands.

"I wasn't comfortable selling it into the open market, even through a dealer. I don't think that kind of military-style weapon belongs anywhere except military and law enforcement," Manchester said.

Manchester turned his collection over to Saranac Lake Police Department and the Office of the Attorney General, who hosted the buyback. They collected 82 firearms, including 4 assault weapons. An extra 180 guns were collected at another buyback further south in Amsterdam.

Gunowners received Visa gift cards in exchange for unwanted guns, no questions asked. The Office of the Attorney General says buybacks are a critical way to avoid potential tragedies.

"From our perspective, that doesn't infringe upon Second Amendment rights," Assistant Attorney General Susan Griskonis said. "In fact, it supports them by giving people who hold guns an opportunity to get rid of them in a safe and confidential way if they no longer want them."

Attorney General Letitia James has helped remove over 7,650 guns from New York communities since taking office in 2019.