Santa Rosa Gun Buyback Collected 583 Firearms

High turnout exhausted event funding, leading participants to donate over 100 additional guns for free.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Philanthropy

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a simplified municipal building facade, evoking civic safety initiatives in a minimalist style. — The Santa Rosa Police Department collected 583 firearms during a local buyback event, exhausting its $50,000 budget shortly after opening. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support your local government hosting gun buyback programs?

The Santa Rosa Police Department collected 583 firearms during a buyback event held at 1351 Maple Ave. The high volume of participants caused organizers to exhaust their $50,000 budget shortly after the event began.

Why it matters

The program aims to decrease risks of violence, self-harm, and accidental shootings by removing unwanted firearms from local homes. High public participation signaled a strong demand for safe disposal options within the community.

The event distributed $50,000 in incentives, including $250 for assault weapons and ghost guns and $150 for other firearms. Ken Coker personally funded $30,000 of the total pool, supporting the collection of 17 assault weapons and 15 ghost guns.

The players

Santa Rosa Police Department

This is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for public safety and the implementation of community programs in Santa Rosa.

Santa Rosa Police Foundation

This organization acts as the philanthropic support arm for the police department to fund community initiatives.

Ken Coker

He is a private donor who contributed $30,000 to finance the gun buyback effort.

The details

Participants surrendered up to three firearms each at the 1351 Maple Ave location in exchange for cash payments. Due to significant turnout starting at 9:00 a.m., organizers warned attendees by 9:20 a.m. that funds would be depleted, yet many residents continued to hand over weapons without compensation.

The previous Santa Rosa gun buyback occurred in October 2022.
The buyback was held on October 3, 2026.
The buyback event began at 9:00 a.m.
Organizers warned participants that funds would likely run out at 9:20 a.m.

Market Landscape

This buyback follows the precedent of the October 2022 event to address community safety through private-public funding partnerships. The initiative reflects a growing trend of utilizing philanthropic donations to sustain municipal public safety programs during periods of high demand.

Residents can no longer receive cash payments for surrendered firearms as the program funds are now exhausted. Those wishing to dispose of unwanted weapons may still contact local authorities, though direct financial incentives are currently unavailable.

The takeaway

The overwhelming response underscores a significant community interest in removing retired or unwanted firearms from private circulation. Residents are encouraged to check for future safety events or contact local law enforcement directly for guidance on proper disposal procedures.