The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office joined the ranks of other law enforcement agencies across the Bay area and hosted their first gun buyback since 2009.

The sheriff’s office’s goal is to keep unwanted guns off the streets and from being used in a crime.

“The last time we did this, back in ’09, we actually got 400 guns,” said Manatee County PIO Dave Bristow. “We hope to get that around that same figure today.

They actually got more than that. The Sheriff’s Office paid out approximately $37,950 for a total of 459 firearms, including five assault type weapons.

People lined up early to turn in their working handguns, rifles and assault weapons and got anywhere from $50 to $150 per weapon in return.

“I’ve been waiting about a year to get rid of this and didn’t know where to do it,” said participant Gary Brooks.

Gary Brooks has owned his 25-caliber Phoenix for years and he like many others wanted to dispose of their weapons safely so they don’t end up in the wrong hands.

“I’m taking advantage of the buyback to get rid of this safe,” said Brooks.

“It’s [my gun] sitting around the house collecting dust, just thought I’d get rid of it,” said participant Dallas Thrower.

In only an hour, the sheriff’s office collected more than 200 weapons.

The sheriff’s office’s goal is to keep unwanted guns off the streets and from being used in a crime.

The Sheriff’s Office says they used a special law enforcement fund to pay the public. They say no taxpayer money was used to fund the program.