People turned in 16 guns — mostly handguns, but also one machine gun — in Brockton last weekend in what the mayor’s office is calling a very successful gun buyback.

Each person handing over working guns received a $200 gift certificate from the local Vicente’s Supermarket and a $50 gift certificate from the local car stereo installers Extreme Kustomz. Police asked no questions, and the exchanges were anonymous.

“It was awesome; the mayor was ecstatic,’’ said Robert Buckley, chief of staff for Mayor Bill Carpenter.

The buyback was held at St. Edith Stein Church on May 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of an effort to reduce gun crimes in Brockton.

“If a person has access to a gun, this is his or her chance to turn it in and break the cycle of violence,’’ Carpenter said beforehand.

Buckley said 10 of the collected weapons were working handguns, and there also were two shotguns, a rifle, two BB guns, and the machine gun. He said most of the people bringing in guns were women.

“The machine gun was bigger than the woman bringing it in,’’ Buckley said. “I wanted to ask where it came from, but this was all anonymous.’’

He said the machine gun will be sent to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the other guns will be destroyed.

Vicente’s Supermarket and Extreme Kustomz donated their gift certificates. City officials said they are considering having another gun buyback in the future.

Johanna Seltz can be reached at seltzjohanna@gmail.com.