Gun buyback program gains traction

Bridgeport Police Capt. Roderick Porter Sr., head of the community services division, loads a rifle into a 30 gallon trash can midway through a gun buyback event at the Bridgeport Police Department's Community Services Division Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 in Bridgeport, Conn. In the wake of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the city raised $100,000 for the program and will offer up to $200 value for a working handgun, $75 for rifles and higher amounts for assault-type rifles. The buy back will continue every Saturday until the city gives out all of the funds which includes an additional $10,000 in gift cards from the Food Bazaar grocery store. Photo: Autumn Driscoll

Chris Fumal, of New Milford, watches Officer Pete Garcia log his Intratec TEC-22 semi-automatic handgun during a gun buyback event at the Bridgeport Police Department's Community Services Division Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 in Bridgeport, Conn. In the wake of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the city raised $100,000 for the program and will offer up to $200 value for a working handgun, $75 for rifles and higher amounts for assault-type rifles. The buy back will continue every Saturday until the city gives out all of the funds which includes an additional $10,000 in gift cards from the Food Bazaar grocery store. Photo: Autumn Driscoll

John Coppola, of West Haven, gets ready to turn in three rifles and a shotgun, two of which were used during World War II, during a gun buyback event at the Bridgeport Police Department's Community Services Division Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 in Bridgeport, Conn. In the wake of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the city raised $100,000 for the program and will offer up to $200 value for a working handgun, $75 for rifles and higher amounts for assault-type rifles. The buy back will continue every Saturday until the city gives out all of the funds which includes an additional $10,000 in gift cards from the Food Bazaar grocery store. Photo: Autumn Driscoll

John Coppola, of West Haven, watches Officer Pete Garcia log his three rifles and a shotgun, two of which were used in WWII, during a gun buyback event at the Bridgeport Police Department's Community Services Division Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 in Bridgeport, Conn. In the wake of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the city raised $100,000 for the program and will offer up to $200 value for a working handgun, $75 for rifles and higher amounts for assault-type rifles. The buy back will continue every Saturday until the city gives out all of the funds which includes an additional $10,000 in gift cards from the Food Bazaar grocery store. Photo: Autumn Driscoll

Bridgeport Police Officer Roger Reid moves rifles returned during a gun buyback event at the Bridgeport Police Department's Community Services Division Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 in Bridgeport, Conn. In the wake of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the city raised $100,000 for the program and will offer up to $200 value for a working handgun, $75 for rifles and higher amounts for assault-type rifles. The buy back will continue every Saturday until the city gives out all of the funds which includes an additional $10,000 in gift cards from the Food Bazaar grocery store. Photo: Autumn Driscoll

Sterrett Pixley, of Stratford, puts together a folding rifle that he is turning in at a buyback event at the Bridgeport Police Department's Community Services Division Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 in Bridgeport, Conn. In the wake of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the city raised $100,000 for the program and will offer up to $200 value for a working handgun, $75 for rifles and higher amounts for assault-type rifles. The buy back will continue every Saturday until the city gives out all of the funds which includes an additional $10,000 in gift cards from the Food Bazaar grocery store. Photo: Autumn Driscoll

Ed Miklos, of Stratford, gets ready to turn in his Ruger P85 pistol during a gun buyback event at the Bridgeport Police Department's Community Services Division Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 in Bridgeport, Conn. In the wake of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the city raised $100,000 for the program and will offer up to $200 value for a working handgun, $75 for rifles and higher amounts for assault-type rifles. The buy back will continue every Saturday until the city gives out all of the funds which includes an additional $10,000 in gift cards from the Food Bazaar grocery store. Photo: Autumn Driscoll