Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow, recently nominated by Gov.-elect Chris Christie to be state attorney general, said she reallocated $75,000 seized from criminals to reinstate the gun buyback program.
Dow said she will encourage other county prosecutors to run similar programs.
Newark Police Director Garry McCarthy said more than 100 guns had been turned in Thursday morning at two churches in the city.
Guns also were being accepted at churches in Irvington and East Orange.
