Important information to know before surrendering a weapon
Residents surrendering a weapon and/or ammunition will not have to provide any source of identification. However, the police officer accepting the surrendered weapon shall explain that the surrender will result in the firearm not being returned and that is what is agreed upon by the resident. The officer will then document on the inventory form that the citizen does not want firearm returned and issue a notice of confiscated weapons to the surrenderer.
Two ways to turn in your unwanted firearm to the police
- Call the non-emergency police line to have the police come to your house to take the gun
This is the best way for a City of Milwaukee resident to safely get rid of an unwanted firearm. Here’s what to do:
- Call the Milwaukee Police Department non-emergency line at (414) 933-4444.
- Tell the operator that you request an officer come to confiscate firearm(s) and/or ammunition from your residence, or current location. Let the operator know if there is an urgency to remove the firearm from the home.
- Leave the firearm(s) where currently located at the time of the call.
- If the firearm belongs to you and you know how to remove its ammunition, please do so.
- If the firearm does not belong to you, or you do NOT know how to handle / unload a firearm, then DO NOT attempt to remove ammunition, or otherwise disarm the weapon.
A police officer will promptly arrive at the address provided, will check to ensure the firearm(s) is rendered safe, and give you a property receipt.
- Call non-emergency police number to notify them that you are coming down to the police station to dispose of an unwanted firearm
Residents may surrender a weapon in-person at a police station. This option is preferable for people who are unable to wait for an officer to arrive at their location, including those for whom time is of the essence and those for whom it is unsafe to meet with an officer at their current location. To use this option, here’s what to do:
- If it is safe for you to do so, call the MPD non-emergency line at (414) 933-4444 and say that you are planning to visit a police station to surrender an unwanted firearm and/or ammunition. Tell the operator which station you are planning to visit and about what time you expect to arrive.
- If the firearm belongs to you and you know how to remove its ammunition, please do so.
- If the firearm does not belong to you, or you do NOT know how to handle / unload a firearm, then DO NOT attempt to remove ammunition, or otherwise disarm the weapon. If it is safe for you to do so, please consider asking an MPD office to come to your home, or current location to remove the firearm. If that is not feasible and you need to bring the weapon to a police station, then exercise extreme caution when handling the weapon – do not touch the trigger of the firearm.
- Transport the weapon to the police station in the trunk, or cargo area of your vehicle, preferably not loaded.
- When you arrive at the station:
- Leave the firearm in your vehicle. DO NOT ENTER A POLICE STATION CARRYING A WEAPON.
- Enter the station and let the officer at the front desk know that you are there to surrender an unwanted firearm. Clarify that the weapon is in a vehicle outside.
A police officer will accompany you to your vehicle, check to ensure the firearm(s) is rendered safe, retrieve the firearm(s) and/or ammunition, and give you a property receipt.
Messaging notes:
- List of reasons to dispose of gun
- Young, lively, curious children are at your home. Removing the gun removes the risk of unintentional shooting.
- You are experiencing a major life change (i.e. divorce, separation, death of a loved one) and are feeling the effects of stress.
- A family member, friend or neighbor is suffering from depression. Limiting access to guns reduces the risk of suicide.
- The firearm cannot be properly stored.
- The gun was left by an earlier occupant of the house.
- You can’t guarantee that someone else won’t get the gun.
- You want to do something to reduce the number of gun accidents, suicides, and homicides.
- You understand that a gun in the home is much more likely to kill or injure a family member or friend than it is to protect you.
- You are experiencing increased stress or periods of anger and want to preemptively remove weapons from your home.
- You find a gun that you didn’t know was in your home and don’t want to risk being associated with any crimes committed with that weapon.