Crime & Safety

LAPD Hollywood Division to Host Gun Buyback Saturday

Authorities will offer $100 to $200 gift certificates to anyone who turns in a gun, no questions asked.

The City of Los Angeles Gun Buyback program will offer $100 and $200 gift certificates to people who turn in weapons Saturday at several Los Angeles locations including Hollywood.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., those who turn in shotguns, handguns and rifles will receive a $100 gift certificate to Ralphs supermarket or Visa. People who turn in assault weapons will receive a $200 gift certificate.

The certificates will be handed out while supplies last, and authorities reserve the right to limit the number of weapons turned in by an individual.

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The LAPD asks that the weapons are brought in unloaded and in the trunk of vehicles, and they say no questions will be asked of those who turn them in.

Stolen weapons will be returned to their rightful owners, and the rest will be destroyed.

Find out what's happening in Hollywoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Capt. Beatrice Girmala, who oversees LAPD's Hollywood Division, said the event was so successful last year that officers are bringing it back again to Hollywood.

"If you know people who have a firearm in the house they aren't comfortable with and they want disposed of, we can help them in that regard to safely to do so," Girmala said. "We'll have at least nine officers standing by to help them unload the gun if there is any anxiety there. We can help you."

Girmala added, "No grenades please; somebody brought a grenade last time and shut down our event momentarily, so if you have a grenade please don't bring it in, we'll come see you and deal with it."

Last year, more than 2,500 weapons were turned in at the various locations, and in 2009, more than 1,700 weapons were turned in.

Locations where the weapons may be brought are:

  • Florentine Gardens, 5951 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood
  • Facey Medical Center parking lot, 11165 Sepulveda Blvd. in Mission Hills 
  • Los Angeles Fire Department Academy, 1700 Stadium Way in Elysian Park
  • Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 7900 S. Western Ave., in Los Angeles
  • Park & Ride Parking Lot, 1300 W. Pacific Coast Highway, in Wilmington
  • Santa Barbara Plaza, 3900 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Los Angeles

For more information about the program, call 877-LAPD-247.

City News service contributed to this report.


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