OPA-LOCKA, Fla. – The Opa-locka Police Department are offering South Floridians the chance to sell their guns, no questions asked.
On Saturday, December 21, they will hold a gun buy back event for community residents at the New Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church at 15000 NW 27th Avenue from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. They invite the general public to hand over guns to the police, in exchange for money.
"We want and welcome our residents to have a good quality of life," Opa-locka Assistant City Manager David Chiverton told Local 10's Ben Kennedy. "Our first order of business is to try to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them."
The Opa-locka Police Department is working with several local churches and agencies to put on the program. According to Chiverton, the groups hope word of mouth will get people out in large numbers.
"If you know that there are guns in your home or around your home, encourage people to bring them in. There are no questions asked. You get cash. It's the holidays. You buy a gift, get rid of a gun."
The gun buy back program happens twice a year in Opa-locka. At the last buy back event in June, 14 firearms were handed over to the city and $1,200 was given out.
Last December, 58 weapons were collected and the city paid out $5,800.
Chiverton expects another large crowd, in the aftermath of the Connecticut school shooting.
"I think people are very conscious about the challenges about guns and their legal guns in our community and country, so I think people will turn out in great numbers."
If you plan on turning in a gun, make sure it is unloaded. Place it in the trunk of your car and park on the south side of the church, outside of the fence. Gun owners must follow these rules in order to sell their gun and maintain a safe environment.