When Most Blessed Trinity Parish in Waukegan hosted its city’s first-ever gun buyback event on April 29 in partnership with the Waukegan Police Department, 166 firearms were collected along with rounds of ammunition.

“This is the first event for us,” said Scott Chastain, Waukegan deputy chief of police. “We were very optimistic. We were hoping to get anywhere from one to 100 guns, and we broke that, so we are very happy in the number of guns that we received.”

Despite heavy rain, the event collected many long guns and revolvers, some handguns and an Uzi. Cardinal Cupich, Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Grob, along with many other members of the Catholic community donated $12,000 to buy back the guns.

“If we could do this again, I think it would be another successful operation and another win for the city,” Chastain said.

People lined up in their cars outside the church and proceeded through drive-thru stations to turn in the guns and receive compensation. Several people refused the payment, Chastain said.

“The church is a nice safe environment, we felt, and people would come here and feel safe on the church grounds as opposed to maybe a city lot or a police department. We think the church is more neutral grounds,” he said.

People who turned in guns could remain anonymous and drop off the guns with no questions asked.

Father Timothy O’Malley, pastor of Most Blessed Trinity Parish, said he appreciated the effort the various groups put in to make the event successful.

“Also, I’m really appreciative of the families who were supportive and encouraged to bring out these firearms to turn them in,” O’Malley said. “I’m just grateful that it will be a little safer for the police in our community.”

Last year, Waukegan police seized 277 guns, mainly during routine traffic stops.

“That’s pretty dangerous in a traffic stop,” O’Malley said. “For whatever reason that those people might have had a firearm with them, there really was no reason for that at that time. To have that many firearms off the street is very important. I’m really appreciative because it means, perhaps, for me, fewer funerals.”

O’Malley said he hopes to host another buyback event with the police department.

“I think a lot of confidence grew both in the community as well as staff in the Waukegan Police Department and the Archdiocese of Chicago,” he said.

O’Malley has served most of his priesthood in Lake County and, “I knew there was a need for this, so I was willing to support it,” he said.

Sister of the Holy Child Jesus Mary Popit was born and raised Waukegan and returned to volunteer during the buyback event.

“I care very much about this city. When I heard about this, I was interested in whatever I could do to support it,” Sister Mary said. “I can’t tell you how emotional and happy — a strange word to use for a gun buyback — but the fact that it was as successful as it was, I’m going to just rejoice and I’m going to try and tell everybody I know how important and successful this was.”

Sister Mary said she hopes other communities replicate the event. Other parishes in Cook County have hosted gun buyback events.

“It is one way to do something about gun control. I would also support legislation that would do something about controlling guns,” Sister Mary said. “It’s the people that made it happen and for that I’m just so grateful.”