Bellevue residents turned in 84 firearms Saturday, Sept. 26, walking away with a combined $12,000 in prepaid Visa gift cards at the Bellevue Police Department's second gun exchange.

As we reported Sept. 26, the department invited community members to anonymously surrender weapons at its headquarters, 11201 NE 33rd Place. The three-hour event ran from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Bellevue residents given priority over other King County participants.

A grant from the Washington State Attorney General's Office paid for the gift cards. The Bellevue Police Department announced the results on X on Tuesday, Sept. 29, calling the exchange a success and crediting the grant with helping foster gun safety in Bellevue. The department said it plans to hold more events.

What participants received

Gift card amounts depended on the type of firearm surrendered. AR-15 and AK-47 style weapons earned $300 each. Handguns brought $200. Rifles and shotguns were worth $100. Antique or inoperable firearms received $25.

Each participant could exchange up to 10 eligible firearms for gift cards, according to the city's event page. Additional firearms beyond 10 were accepted but received no card. Toy guns, BB and pellet guns, homemade or altered firearms, magazines and accessories were not eligible.

The exchange was anonymous. The department did not record participants' names or conduct records checks. Participants who showed proof of residency could cover their names on the identification.

Event rules

The department posted rules the morning of the exchange requiring participants to leave firearms in the trunks of their vehicles. Ammunition was not accepted. No on-site sales were permitted.

Surrendered firearms are handled under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 9.41.098, which governs how law enforcement processes confiscated or forfeited weapons.

What's next

The department has not announced a date or location for the next exchange. The Sept. 26 event was the department's second; the department began promoting it on Sept. 15. Details about the first exchange, including when it was held and how many firearms were collected, have not been released.

The post-event announcement on X drew more than 86,000 impressions, 937 replies and 43 quote tweets.