LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, gang intervention and prevention service providers, and victim advocacy organizations, announced on Friday (May 6) the third citywide Gun Buyback program aimed at reducing the levels of gun violence in Los Angeles. The Gun Buyback will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at six locations throughout the City.
“Last year, Angelenos from across the city came together to make the Gun Buyback a success that surpassed expectations,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “We proved that together, it’s in our hands to make our neighborhoods safer by taking dangerous weapons off the streets and this year, we have the chance to do it again.”
An initiative of the Mayor’s Gang Reduction and Youth Development Office (GRYD), the 2011 Gun Buyback will reward the voluntary surrender of firearms, while engaging the community towards a common goal of reducing gun violence. In partnership with the LAPD and numerous community and faith based organizations, the gun buyback effort will secure six neutral locations throughout the City where individuals can surrender their firearms—no questions asked.
In exchange for the firearm, the individual will receive a gift card to Ralphs or receive a Mastercard pre-paid card. The cost per firearm will depend on its type, up to $200 for assault weapons as specified in the State of California and up to $100 for handguns, rifles and shotguns. The LAPD Gun Unit will be on site to determine the type of classification of the firearm surrendered.
Last year, the Gun Buyback Program collected over 2,500 firearms from across the City in one day. In turn, participants were awarded a total of $197,400. In its first year in 2009, the Gun Buyback Program collected almost 1,700 firearms and awarded participants a total of $130,200.
The GRYD office worked with the LAPD, Ralphs, media partner KCAL 9/KCBS 2, and numerous community organizations to plan, outreach and raise donations for the event.
The Gun Buyback Program will be held at the following six locations throughout the City:
LAPD Northeast Area
Frank Hotchkins Training Academy
1700 Stadium Way
Los Angeles, CA 90012
LAPD Harbor Area
Park & Ride Parking Lot
1300 West Pacific Coast Highway
Wilmington, CA 90744
LAPD 77th Area
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
7900 South Western Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90047
LAPD Southwest Area
Santa Barbara Plaza
3900 West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90008
LAPD Hollywood Division
Florentine Gardens
5951 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
LAPD Mission Area
Facey Medical Center Parking Lot
11165 Sepulveda Boulevard
Mission Hills, CA 91345.
