Gun buyback program being discussed in Calhoun County

The city of Anniston is considering a gun buy back, and Calhoun County agencies are also interested in participating. The Anniston city manager and council began discussions at Monday night's work session.  In the potential program, the city would provide cash or gift cards to people who turned in guns at a scheduled event. The Calhoun County Commission, district attorney's office, sheriff's office, and crimestoppers expressed interest as well.  It would be a "no questions asked" buy back, with hopes the county would recover stolen firearms. District attorney Brian McVeigh said the guns used in the last few capital murder cases in Calhoun County were all stolen.  That is a key reason he supports a gun buy back.  McVeigh said if the program prevents just one shooting, it will be a success.
County commission chairman Tim Hodges said more and more communities are doing similar buy backs.  Hodges said it will be best for Calhoun County if this is a county-wide program, rather than simply limited to Anniston.  The Anniston city manager is considering the spending of about $10,000 for a buy back program.  The county commission, sheriff's office, and other agencies would also likely contribute to the funding.