San Francisco Hosts Gun Buy-Back Event As Violent Crimes Increase
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) -- San Francisco officials and anti-gun violence advocates on Thursday announced a gun buy-back event for this upcoming weekend.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed helped promote the event Thursday, which will be held in the city's South of Market neighborhood. Potential participants can drive up or walk up and sell their handguns for $100 and their assault guns for $200.
The event is being organized by the SoMa-based community group United Playaz and the San Francisco Police Department, in an effort to cleanse the city's communities of gun violence.
Breed, a native of San Francisco's Western Addition neighborhood, said the buy-back events are personal to her because she's been surrounded by gun violence her entire life.
"We have lost friends and family members and this senseless violence continues. If we can get these guns off the streets, if we can get these guns out of the hands of anyone who would use them, it is in the best interest in our communities," Breed said.
Breed added, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence remains a problem.
"In San Francisco we saw an increase in firearm related incidents during the first seven months of this year compared to the same period last year." she said. "This is about changing the future, especially because African Americans in San Francisco and around this country continue to be victims of gun violence at a young age and we can do better than that."
"We want to make sure that these guns get taken off the street," said San Francisco police Capt. Timothy Falvey. "We will take care of destroying the weapon, no questions asked."
He added, "We don't want guns carelessly left in homes, where there could be tragedies where children find guns, or if burglars get into your home and they find guns that aren't properly stored, these are the guns that wind up in the wrong hands out on the streets and contribute to the gun violence problem."
Once the guns are collected, they're melted down and parts are recycled and turned into jewelry through a partnership with the Vallejo-based Robby Poblete Foundation.
Since the gun buy-back events first began in 2014, nearly 2,000 guns have been removed from San Francisco streets, United Playaz said.
The event takes place Saturday at United Playaz at 1038 Howard St. from 8 a.m. to noon.
Participants driving up won't have to get out of their car to sell their gun. Additionally, 6 feet distance and face coverings will be required.
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