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Anonymous donor enables Phoenix PD to host third gun buyback

The Phoenix Police Department will host its third and final planned gun buyback this weekend after an anonymous donor gave $100,000 for the effort.

Response to the first buyback held on May 6 was so huge that Phoenix PD nearly exhausted a donation intended to fund three events.

Commander Mike Kurtenbach said almost 1,000 guns have been collected in the last two weeks.

"While we can’t speak to the history of those guns before the buyback, we can say with supreme confidence that none of those guns will be used in the commission of a crime going forward," Kurtenbach said.

The guns will be checked for evidence of use in a crime. Those that cannot be repurposed for police training will be destroyed.

Governor Jan Brewer had signed a law that prevents cities from melting down guns collected during buyback events. It will go into effect 90 days after the legislative session ends. Phoenix PD plans to melt down the guns collected at their buyback event before that 90-day period ends.