MIAMI – With recent gun violence in Miami, local officials and police are coming together to take guns off the street.
"I mean, enough is simply enough. And we're sick and tired of it," Rev. Jerome Starling said.
Community activists and police said they want guns off the streets and turned into police, which is why they are holding a gun buyback event this weekend.
"We have small children that are finding guns in the park, finding guns in their homes and they're shooting their best friends by accident," Bernard Jennings, from the Biscayne Gardens Chamber of Commerce, said.
Anyone who turns over their guns this weekend will receive gift certificates valued at $50 for guns that don't work and $100 gift certificates for working guns.
Each exchange remains anonymous and no questions will be asked.
"Let's celebrate life, not shoot and kill each other up. That's crazy," Starling said.
Starling led the charge Thursday, pleading for the community to turn in their guns. Starling has been an active voice in the community ever since his 5-year-old niece Rickia Isaac was killed by a stray bullet.
The gun buyback program has been going on for the past 19 years.
Last year, police received more than 600 guns during the course of four separate gun buyback events.The year before that, they collected 800 guns.
This year, they're hoping for record numbers and ultimately want to make the community safer.
The gun buyback event will be held Saturday at Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church at 5946 NW 12th Ave from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will also be a free neighborhood cook-out at Tacolcy Park, 6161 NW Ninth Ave., the same day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide an opportunity for the community to come together and build relationships with law enforcement personnel.