The San Diego Sheriff’s Department collected nearly 400 firearms at a ‘Guns for Gift Cards’ event in North County Saturday.
The event let people trade in unwanted guns with no questions asked. In return, they received a Walmart gift card ranging from $50 to $200.
Captain Mike McClain said Saturday’s event will make our streets safer.
"The whole emphasis behind an event like this is for folks who are not really comfortable with firearms in their house, people who are not trained with firearms, don't routinely operate them, they don't feel safe, they don't secure them in safes, maybe they have kids,” said McClain. “We would rather they come to us and we'll destroy it in an appropriate, legal manner.”
At events like these, McClain said people who don't feel comfortable with firearms in the house generally turn in the weapons.
At the event, Sheriff's officials said they received several unique weapons, including zip guns, modified weapons made from tubing, assault rifles and more.
Before the guns are destroyed, Sheriff’s Deputies run the guns through the Automatic Firearm System (AFS) to make sure they have not been stolen or linked to a previous crime.
