Police in Los Angeles and local businesses are sponsoring a gun-buyback programme this weekend in an effort to get more lethal weapons off the streets, the city's civilian anti-gang czar said on Wednesday.
Gun owners can turn in their weapons at near 20 locations around the city on Saturday and receive gift cards worth 100 or 200 dollars, depending on the type of firearms surrendered.
"We are looking at this as a two-fold issue -- of getting guns off the streets and (hoping) to get people who have had guns sitting around for years to turn those in," said Rev. Jeff Carr, who was appointed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to lead the city's efforts against violent gangs.
Carr said that authorities are concerned about weapons being stolen and then turning up in a crime.
Los Angeles last time held a gun buyback program in the city more than 12 years ago, and organizers are unsure how successful the effort will be.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has recently sponsored a number of gun-buyback programmes in the area, with about 300 weapons surrendered during each campaign.
The events are being co-sponsored by grocery chain Ralph's and local television stations KCBS and KCAL. Sponsors have so far committed more than 120,000 dollars to the programme.
The money will fund 100-dollar gift certificates for those surrendering handguns, shotguns and rifles, while owners of assault weapons like AK-47's, Uzis or AR-15 guns will be paid 200 dollars, organizers said.
Officials promised that police will not run ballistic tests on the weapons.
"We hope to get so many weapons that it wouldn't be practical to run ballistic tests," Carr said. "Also we wanted to encourage people to turn in weapons. The main thing is to reduce the amount of guns out there."