The San Diego County Sheriff's Department will offer gun owners gift cards in exchange for their firearms this Friday.
Those who turn in unwanted guns will receive $50 grocery store gift cards for shotguns and rifles and $100 grocery store gift cards for hand guns and assault weapons, according to a statement.
The buy-back will take place Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Tubman/Chavez Multicultural Center, 415 Euclid Avenue, San Diego. It is put on by United African American Ministerial Action Council.
The buyback is annual, but comes at a time when many are reconsidering their need for assault weapons. Wednesday morning, President Barack Obama called on an administration team to offer "concrete proposals" on curbing gun violence by January.
The gift cards were purchased with $10,000 in asset forfeiture funds. They can be redeemed at any grocery store.
Sheriff's deputies will be on the scene with directions to ensure safety. They ask that all weapons be unloaded and placed in the owner's trunk.
Last year, the department collected 851 weapons and ammunition -- -- significantly more than the three years prior combined. The organization collected so many that it ran out of gift cards, they said.
