Deputies Offer 'Gifts For Guns' In Compton
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Nearly 400 handguns, rifles, and other firearms were turned in on Monday as part of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's "Gifts for Guns" program.
KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou reports the annual program offers residents the opportunity to safely and anonymously surrender any firearm to the Sheriff's Department in exchange for a gift card.
Residents come out for 'Gifts for Guns'
Participants surrendered 22 assault rifles, 193 rifles, five shotguns, 144 handguns and 22 non-operational guns at the parking lot of the Ralphs supermarket at 280 East Compton Boulevard, according to Nicole Nishida of the sheriff's department.
Firearm owners received gift cards in the amount of $200 for assault weapons, $100 for a handgun, rifle, or shotgun and $50 for a non-operational firearm redeemable at Target or Ralphs Markets.
Attendees were directed to a series of check points where the firearms were located, inventoried, surrendered and rendered safe.
More than 2,000 firearms were surrendered to the Los Angeles Police Department at a similar gun buyback event in December, where the turnout was so overwhelming that officials ultimately ran out of gift cards to distribute.
Officials had estimated that they'd distribute around $75,000 in gift cards on Monday.
Sgt. Robert Jones with Compton Sheriff's Station said the incentives would hopefully be enough to convince owners to turn in their firearms - no questions asked.
"That's one less gun we have to face in the streets, whether it's an operable firearm or an inoperable firearm," Jones said.
