TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Police Department is hosting a gun buyback program this weekend, with hopes of taking guns off the street that could potentially be used in crimes.

The buyback is an effort to curb gun violence in the city that police have been combatting for months.

What You Need To Know

“You pull up, you put the firearm in your back seat or inside the truck. We obtain the firearm from you. You drive off. You collect your money and then you are gone,” said Deputy Police Chief Calvin Johnson. “We are going to do our checks after the fact. If it's a stolen firearm we are going to process it as such."

Tampa Police says the gun buyback will likely not get guns off the street being actively used by criminals in the commission of crimes, however it is offering $100 per gun that someone may have in their home they no longer use, that could be taken by kids or family members, or stolen and used in crimes.

Studies show gun buybacks generally have negligible impacts on gun violence numbers, something Tampa Police say it is aware of.

 

However, the buyback along with efforts to combat gun violence during a number of community forums will help raise awareness.

“We are not going to get every gun off the street,” said Deputy Chief Johnson. “I would assume that those that have guns for the wrong reasons aren't going to turn those in."

For more information on drop-off locations and times for Tampa’s gun buyback this weekend, visit https://www.tampa.gov/events/gun-buy-back/100601