San Mateo County Takes In 500 Guns In Buyback

SAN MATEO, Calif. (AP) — San Mateo County authorities say so many cars were in line for a gun buyback program Saturday that they had to get started a little early.

Sheriff's Det. Rebecca Rosenblatt, a spokeswoman for the department, said late Saturday afternoon that more than 500 guns were turned in during the event.

Authorities paid out up to $100 in cash for a handgun, shotgun or rifle, or up to $200 for an assault rifle during the buyback held at the San Mateo Event Center.

The buyback was scheduled to start at 10 a.m, but more than an hour before the event was scheduled to begin cars were already lined outside the center.

The San Mateo County buyback comes after hundreds of guns were turned over in exchange for cash in recent buyback programs in San Francisco, Oakland and Marin County.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.)