LAPD Gun Buyback 2012: Times, Locations, Gift Cards And All You Need To Know About The Program

The Los Angeles Police Department is holding a gun buyback program on Wednesday in an effort to get firearms off the street, with participants being rewarded with gift cards during the initiative.

The LAPD gun buyback program is anonymous. You don’t need to give your name or other identifying information, and officers won’t be asking any questions about the guns being returned.

For Los Angeles residents who own guns and are interested in participating in the buyback, here are the details, including times, rewards, and other information you need to know about the program. Even if you don’t own a gun, but know someone who does and is uncomfortable participating, you can turn in the weapon for them.

Time: The LAPD gun buyback program runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. PST.

Locations: Guns can be returned to two locations in Los Angeles. In the South L.A. area, guns can be returned at Parking Lot 6 of the Los Angeles Sports Arena at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Figueroa Street. The address for the Arena is 3939 South Figueroa. In the Van Nuys area, guns are being accepted at the Van Nuys Masonic Temple, 14750 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, Calif., 91405.

Rewards: Participants in the LAPD gun buyback program will be offered a Ralph’s gift card (while supplies last.) The denomination of the gift card depends on the type of gun you are returning. Handguns, shotguns and rifles are eligible for up to a $100 gift card. Guns deemed assault weapons under California state law are eligible for a gift card worth up to $200.

Fine print on rewards: The LAPD says it reserves “the right to limit the number of gift cards an individual can receive regardless of the amount of firearms surrendered.”

Anonymity: The gun buyback program is anonymous. The initiative is not a sting, and no ballistics tests will be conducted on the guns being surrendered. Participants will not be photographed and guns will be accepted with no questions asked. License plate numbers will not be logged.

Instructions: From the LAPD blog: “Citizens are asked to bring their unloaded weapons secured in the trunk of their vehicles when they respond to one of the Gun Buyback locations. When they arrive at the Gun Buyback location they will be greeted by personnel who will provide them with instructions on how the guns will be removed from their vehicles. Police officers will take possession of the surrendered guns and the citizen will be offered a gift card for their surrendered firearm and then they drive away. There is no paperwork, no photographs and no logging of anyone who surrenders a weapon. The goal of the program is to remove unwanted guns from our community before that fall into the hands of those who may do harm.”

Lost or stolen weapons: Guns will be checked to determine if they were lost or stolen, and the LAPD will attempt to return the gun to its rightful owner.

What will happen to the guns collected: Any gun that is not lost or stolen will be “destroyed” by the LAPD.

Futher information: The LAPD is asking area residents to not contact the locations participating in the initiative about the gun buyback program. Instead, you can call the department at 1-877-LAPD-247 for further information.