The text
Sec. 40-80. - Voluntary firearm disposal; generally.#
(a)
Whenever a voluntary firearm disposal event, also known as a "gun buyback" event, occurs within the City of Warwick, the procedures contained herein shall be followed. Individuals, collectors or resellers may not purchase firearms from participants during the event. Every firearm obtained at such an event shall be useable and:
(1)
Be inspected immediately upon presentation by a member of the Warwick Police Department and rendered safe through inspection of the chamber of the firearm, the magazine or any cartridge holding or feeding device on the firearm;
(2)
Be photographed or videotaped by an officer of the Warwick Police Department, with the firearm's serial number clearly written and displayed in the same photograph or videotape image;
(3)
Be inspected by an expert in firearms production or collection to determine if the firearm has historic, antique or collectible value, and if so, that information shall be provided to the person presenting the firearm;
(4)
Be delivered to the custody and control of the officer or officers of the Warwick Police Department assigned to supervise the event.
(b)
At the conclusion of the voluntary firearm disposal event, the Warwick Police Department shall:
(1)
List the serial number and a brief description, including manufacturer and age (if known) of each firearm on the city website on a separate page entitled "Weapons to be disposed of by the City of Warwick";
(2)
Run the firearm identification information through the national criminal firearms databases to determine if any firearms were stolen, and if so, make efforts to notify the owner and attempt to return the firearm;
(3)
Disable each firearm by taking any of the following actions: remove the firing pin, removing the bolt from bolt action/semiautomatic rifles, remove the cylinder from revolvers, or remove the slide from automatic handguns.
(c)
In situations where a resident may have unwanted possession of a firearm through probate, an unsolicited gift or for some other reason, the Warwick Police may be contacted for voluntary removal of said firearm from the resident's premises. If the resident is unsure if the firearm is loaded and uncomfortable handling it, he/she must notify the police department at the time voluntary removal of the firearm is requested that it may be armed. An officer of the police department will take possession of the firearm and follow the procedures set forth above for the buyback program.
(Ord. No. O-99-63, § I, 11-15-99; Ord. No. O-13-11, § I, 8-16-13)
Sec. 40-81. - Voluntary firearm disposal; consent searches.#
There may be opportunities for members of the community to collaborate with the city's police department to voluntarily identify and recover/remove firearms illegally possessed by high-risk youths from their home. In those situations, upon determining probable cause, an officer of the police department shall go to the home of the high-risk youth and ask permission of the parent or guardian to search for illegally possessed guns of their children. Permission to search by the parent or guardian must be provided verbally and in writing. The officer must explain that any firearms will be confiscated without consequence of legal prosecution.
(Ord. No. O-13-11, § I, 8-16-13)