On Saturday, Aug. 8, the Archdiocese of Baltimore will hold its annual gun buyback event in Southwest Baltimore, which to date has removed more than one thousand guns from the community. This is the fourth gun buyback event held by the archdiocese, which has yielded 1,056 unwanted guns volun tarily surrendered so far. The annual events are part of an ongoing effort to take unwanted guns out of circulation and make prioritizing safety easier and more accessible. The drive-up event will take place in the parking lot of Westside Shopping center (2413 Frederick Ave. in Baltimore) from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Baltimore Police Department will provide a safe and legal way to dispose of the firearms. Gun owners will get between $100 and $300 for each weapon, depending on the type, no questions asked. Firearms must be in working order. The guns taken off the streets and out of homes include assault weapons and stolen firearms. More than $220,000 has been raised from both Catholic parishes and individual donors for the buybacks, with any excess funds going directly to support families of homicide victims. “Removing weapons from homes can save lives in fragile and volatile situations,” said the Rev. Michael Murphy, pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish and the historic St. Joseph’s Monastery and founding member of Health by Southwest. “It can also save the lives of those who might otherwise use a weapon to harm themselves and prevent firearms from being stolen and used in criminal acts. In 2025, 610 people died in Maryland from gun-related incidents. Of those, 276 were homicides and 322 were suicides, according to data from the state health department. New research published in JAMA Health Forum by two UCLA professors in 2026 showed that keeping guns out of the hands of distressed individuals reduces the numbers of suicides. The study found that individuals did not switch to other methods of suicide once access to guns was restricted. “Our work goes beyond removing unwanted or unnecessary weapons—it is about helping one another see the value of every human life and the dignity of each person,” Murphy said. “We do this by building real relationships within our community.” The buyback event will include a blessing for the community and remarks from local dignitaries and leaders. Past events have included attendance and remarks from Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume and Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman. The archdiocese is working with Health by Southwest on this annual event. Health by Southwest is a coalition of faith leaders and health providers working together to promote the overall health of residents in Southwest Baltimore. Members include Catholic Charities, Mount Saint Joseph High School, My Brother’s Keeper, Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital and Our Lady of Victory Parish. ...read more read less