A fear of gun violence has been in the forefront of people’s minds since the Dec. 14 shooting at Newtown, CT which left 20 students and six elementary school staff dead at the hands of a disturbed shooter.
Some people felt so moved by the tragedy that without any prompting, they brought their guns to law enforcement and turned them in. Now, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department in collaboration with the San Diego District Attorney’s Office and the Chula Vista and National City police departments is offering gift cards in exchange for working guns or rifles to help get more weapons off the streets.
“This program gives people an opportunity to get unwanted firearms out of their homes. One woman I spoke to told me that her husband had died and she had his guns in the house. By turning in the guns to us she was able to make sure they didn’t get in the hands of her grandkids by accident or in the hands of criminals from a theft,” said Sheriff Bill Gore. “Other people are in a similar circumstance. We want to invite them to join law enforcement in this effort and get a little something in return.”
The gun buyback will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 in the parking lot of the South Bay Courthouse, 500 Third Ave. in Chula Vista. Participants can enter the parking lot off I Street, west of Third Avenue.
Law enforcement will accept unwanted firearms and will ask no questions. People need to bring the unloaded weapons in a locked container or the trunk of their vehicles. In return, people will receive a $50 gift card which can be redeemed at area grocery stores. Only one gift card can be issued per vehicle.
Each agency participating is contributing $2,500 to purchase the cards. Uniformed law enforcement officers will collect the weapons from those turning in the guns.
“I can assure you that they’re all taken and destroyed properly and they won’t end up in the wrong hands,” said Chula Vista police Lt. Roxana Kennedy.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department collaborates with various other law enforcement agencies and community organizations to participate in other gun buyback programs. In December, the department took part in a similar annual gun buyback program in the Lincoln Park area in which they collected hundreds of firearms.
