Record gun collection: Impacted by the carnage in Sandy Hook, residents of Camden, New Jersey, turned in a huge amount of weapons in a gun buyback program over the weekend
Loaded: Among the weapons collected were scores of rifles, shotguns and pistols, sawed-off shotguns, a century-old antique weapon, a rifle used for hunting elephants and five fully automatic weapons
Among them were scores of rifles, shotguns and pistols, sawed-off shotguns, a century-old antique weapon, a rifle used for hunting elephants and five fully automatic weapons.
Some 90 per cent were in working condition.
Many were illegal weapons under state laws; some were so-called community guns stashed around the neighborhood.
Gun and done: Guns cover tables in front of New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa, center, in Camden
NJ.com reported that those who came to the event were paid up to $250 per weapon with 'no questions asked.'
Nearly all of the weapons are to be destroyed.
The shooting at a Newtown elementary school on Friday left 26 people dead, including 20 children, ages 6 and 7.
The gunman, Adam Lanza, used a Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle in the killings, and used a handgun to kill himself as police officers closed in.
Twice as many firearms were turned in Saturday, the day after, than on Friday, Chiesa noted.
Officials have said there are about 170 drug markets operating in Camden, a city of 77,000 near Philadelphia, more than 700 people on parole and 600 registered sex offenders.
The city ranks first in violent crime, according to the FBI. It also leads the country in murders for cities of more than 50,000 people.
The murder rate is unthinkably high. In 2007, Newark attracted national attention for a record number of homicides.
Taking a closer look: Camden police officers examine and take photos of guns displayed on tables at police headquarters
Cash for guns: Those who came to the event were paid up to $250 per weapon with 'no questions asked'
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