The Long Beach Police Department is gearing up to make its streets safer, one firearm at a time. In an effort to curb gun violence that continues to plague communities, LBPD announced a Gun Buy Back Event slated for June 29, where locals can exchange their guns for cold hard cash in the form of gift cards, reports the city's official police statement. Teaming up with the Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office, LBPD is pulling all stops to reduce the accessibility of firearms.
Structured as a tiered incentive program, the gun buyback offers $50 for non-functioning firearms and ramps up to $100 for handguns, rifles, and shotguns, capping at a handsome $200 for assault rifles. Unconventional firearms, such as those that are 3D-printed, will have their value appraised on site. "We remain committed to supporting programs which can reduce the availability and accessibility of firearms in our community," LBPD Chief Wally Hebeish said in a statement.
The move by LBPD, amid a national conversation about gun control, demonstrates a local commitment to proactive measures. This gun buyback event is part of a wider strategy by the department to address safety concerns and support residents in the weapon-laden quandary they often find themselves in urban pockets. Speaking to the urgency of the matter, LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn emphasized the purpose of the program: "This is part of a series of gun buybacks I am organizing with law enforcement agencies across my district to give residents an opportunity to get guns out of their homes and help make their community safer," Hahn was quoted saying.
At Scherer Park's Atlantic Ave. Parking Lot, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., residents will be directed to safely transport their unloaded firearms in their vehicle’s trunk. They are then to remain in their vehicles as detectives retrieve the weapons. Participants will then receive the gift cards, and the firearms will be secured with the LBPD’s Forensics Science Services Division. Clearly, getting guns off the street is a high priority for LBPD, and with the community's help, they’re aiming to pull the trigger on gun violence, replacing lethal weapons with something a bit more benign - gift cards.
