Sonoma County residents with unwanted guns can exchange them for cash in Marin County on Jan. 15 and 21.
The no-questions-asked program run by the Marin County District Attorney's Office will give $200 for operable semi-automatic handguns and long guns as well as $100 for other types of firearms.
People must provide proof they live in Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco or Contra Costa counties. But no other background information will be asked or investigation generated, District Attorney Ed Berberian said.
The county has $40,000 to spend on the firearms, which includes $10,000 worth of checks mailed in after Berberian's office sought donations to fund the effort. The county contributed $10,000 and the Marin Community Foundation $20,000.
While the county has called for people to turn in guns in the past, this is the first time it has offered money in exchange, Berberian said.
"I feel very strongly that we have too many firearms in our homes," Berberian said.
Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said no such buy-back program has occurred in Sonoma County in her memory.
"I will be talking with other law enforcement leaders about organizing one in our county. I think it's a great idea," Ravitch said.
On Jan. 15, bring unwanted and unloaded weapons to the following locations between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.: Novato Police Department, 909 Machin Ave.; San Rafael Police Department, 1400 Fifth Ave.; Central Marin Police Authority, 250 Doherty Drive in Larkspur; St. Andrew's Church, 101 Donahue St. in Marin City; and the Marin County Sheriff's Pt. Reyes Substation, 101 Fourth St.
On Jan. 21, the program will be available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the San Rafael Police Department at 1400 Fifth Ave. and the Mill Valley Police Department at 1 Hamilton Drive.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: