On a sunny Saturday at Scherer Park, the Long Beach Police Department took a step toward curbing the local threat of gun violence by hosting a Gun Buy Back event. The event, which unfolded in the park's spacious parking lot off Atlantic Avenue, saw a total of 190 firearms turned in by local residents, all in exchange for gift cards. This initiative was part of a wider strategy aimed at reducing the number of firearms in the community, aiming for a safer Long Beach.
The June 29 event, sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office, operated with smooth efficiency, as community members were instructed to remain in their cars, firearms stowed in their trunks, while police officials collected the weapons. The firearms collected included a range of guns from handguns to assault rifles, the ambivalent harvest of a community grappling with the ubiquitous presence of these lethal tools. Notably, the haul comprised 77 handguns – one of which was an untraceable ghost gun – and 56 rifles, 11 of which were classified as assault rifles.
The buyback program offered varying compensation for different types of firearms, with amounts ranging from $50 for non-functioning firearms to $200 for assault rifles. These prices were designed to incentivize the handover of guns that might otherwise remain in circulation. According to the Long Beach Police Department, the event is part of an ongoing commitment to "We remain committed to supporting programs which can reduce the availability and accessibility of firearms in our community.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has been at the helm of orchestrating these gun buybacks across her district, viewing them as critical junctures in the fight against gun violence. “We know that guns are the problem," Hahn said. "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." This particular gun buyback event underscores a collective effort to rectify the knots of crisis fastened by widespread firearm access.
A detailed breakdown of the guns collected paints a telling picture of the precautions taken by the community: from the 33 shotguns to the novelty of 10 replica/BB guns brought in. The Long Beach Police Department assures that the firearms will be in the charge of LBPD’s Forensics Science Services Division, ensuring they are out of the wrong hands for good. The event marked a day where guns were traded not in back alleys or darkened doorsteps but beneath the watchful eye of law enforcement, crafting a narrative of proactive safety rather than reactive tragedy.
