San Mateo county officials now have 700 guns off the streets, including twenty-four assault rifles, after a gun buyback this weekend.

People lined up for blocks outside the Event Center in San Mateo to sell handguns for $100 each, and larger guns for $200.  Participants were limited to turning in a total of three guns. 

The entire event was conducted by vehicle - participants stayed in their cars while sheriff's deputies opened trunks and removed the guns, making sure they were in working order and unloaded.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Rebecca Rosenblatt says it was well worth the effort.

"I know that there were some pictures from the press release of some very serious guns that were taken in," Rosenblatt says.  "There were some naysayers that said 'oh, you're just going to get shotguns and some hunting rifles,' and I think those pictures, seeing these very violent guns as well as those assault rifles, shows that this event really will have an impact."

Saturday's event cost over $63,000, and was the first buyback in several years by San Mateo County. The county split the expense with Peninsula Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who contributed unused campaign funds.