653 FIREARMS COLLECTED DURING GIFTS FOR GUNS EVENTS

 

 

NEWS FROM DON KNABE

Supervisor, Fourth District

County of Los Angeles

822 Hahn Hall of Administration

 

 

 

        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           Contact:         David A. Sommers

                                                                                                                    (213) 974-1095

                                                                                                                   (213) 453-6446 (cell)

653 FIREARMS COLLECTED DURING GIFTS FOR GUNS EVENTS

 

LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2009 – 653 guns, including one grenade, were surrendered by local residents during the first weekend of a two-month expansion of the Gifts for Guns program, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

 

The Gifts for Guns program allows County residents to anonymously and safely turn in guns and firearms to law enforcement.  Since Sheriff Lee Baca began the program in 2005, over 3,000 guns and firearms have been surrendered in exchange for gift cards. A firearm that's no longer working can be exchanged for a $50 gift card, working firearms are worth a $100 card, and an assault weapon is exchanged for a $200 card. The gift cards can be used at Target, Wal-Mart, Food-4-Less, and Ralphs.

 

The first three collection events were held on March 28 and 29 and resulted in 653 firearms being surrendered, including:

 

Norwalk Sheriff Station: 197 firearms, including one grenade

Century Sheriff Station: 143 firearms

Lancaster Sheriff Station: 313 firearms

 

“I was amazed when I stopped by the Norwalk collection site on Saturday. Within 30 minutes, 18 firearms had been collected,” said Supervisor Knabe. “The men and women of our law enforcement agencies do a tremendous job protecting our communities, but enforcement alone isn’t enough to reduce gun violence on our streets. Reduction requires the support of the public, and successful programs like Gifts for Guns will help get the job done.”

 

Over the next two months, Gifts for Guns collection sites will be held throughout the County and will be open to any residents. Specific details for each collection event are available by contacting the individual Sheriff stations. Locations include:

 

April 4-5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Palmdale Sheriff Station

Carson Sheriff Station

Walnut Sheriff Station

 

April 18-19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Santa Clarita Sheriff Station

Lomita Sheriff Station (April 18 only)

Lakewood Sheriff Station

 

April 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Altadena Sheriff Station

San Dimas Sheriff Station

 

May 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Crescenta Valley Sheriff Station

Marina del Rey Sheriff Station

 

May 8-9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

East Los Angeles Sheriff Station

Lennox Sheriff Station

Industry Sheriff Station

 

May 22-23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lost Hills Sheriff Station (May 23 only)

Avalon Sheriff Station (May 22 only)

 

May 30-31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Temple Sheriff Station

Compton Sheriff Station

Pico Rivera Sheriff Station

 

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