District 9 Supervisor David Campos and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee announced a gun buyback event on Tuesday that will take place on Aug. 8. Participants will be able to bring unloaded guns to 22nd and Capp streets in exchange for cash.
“Gun buybacks are a proven way to reduce the number of guns in a community. The community has asked for this program and we are hopeful that our anti-violence partners will be able to reach gun owners who have not been reached before,” Campos said. “We also know that one of the critical challenges facing buybacks is funding, and we are happy to be able to provide the resources to help make the community safer.”
In a statement issued by Campos’s office, spokesperson Carolyn Goossen explained that participants will receive $100 in exchange for unloaded guns and $200 for assault weapons. No questions will be asked.
In an earlier interview, Campos told Mission Local that he used discretionary funds allotted yearly to each San Francisco supervisor to organize the event.
Campos also partnered with Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), a Mission-based organization that works with at-risk youth, the Mission District Station of the San Francisco Police Department, the US Bank, and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
“In order to achieve peace in our neighborhood we need to work with young people as individuals and be conscious of the larger systemic issues, like poverty and racism, that cause so many to turn to violence. At the same time, we know that if we take guns off the streets, we can save many young peoples’ lives,” said Lariza Dugan-Cuadra, executive director of CARECEN.
In addition to these partners, approximately 150 community members donated $10,000 online at GunbyGun.org for the event.
“Our goal is to provide a way for individuals who care about gun violence to have a direct impact on their community” said Ian Johnstone, co-founder of Gunbygun. “As someone who lives in the Mission and spends most of my time here, I am very happy to know there are fewer guns in the streets because of this effort.”
Johnstone said people can donate money at GunbyGun.org until Aug. 2 to help fund the gun buyback program.
The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of U.S. Bank on 22nd and Capp streets. A maximum of five guns per car, or per person will be accepted.
While I think less guns make for a safe community, it bothers me that people are being paid for getting rid of something they shouldn’t have had in the first place and/or obtained illegally.
Who said they shouldn’t of had them in the first place? Who said they were obtained illegally? More than likely they were picked through and the nice ones ended up in someone else’s possession. A scam that will not curb crime one iota.
More feel good programs that do nothing to address the actual problems in the Mission – David Campos’ and the rest of the city government’s specialty.
Are BB guns accepted at this event?
Ditto… I’ll pay double. A non-felon. Legally through an FFL. Selling Grandpa’s old 30-06 because you feel guilty will do nothing to curb gun violence. If you just need the money, or you’re just not a gun person, we’ll buy them.
This is a waste of time and money… money that could be better spent educating people on ‘fire arms safety’! The honest gun owners are fools to sell their guns back to the city; knowing full well that the gangs will still be armed to the teeth. And San Francisco’s finest (SFPD) can and will do nothing to solve this problem.
I will personally pay anyone who wants to get rid of a gun twice what this program is offering. $400 for any assault weapons.