MAYOR ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA
City of Los Angeles

MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA, LAPD ANNOUNCE LOCATIONS FOR CITYWIDE GUN BUYBACK INITIATIVE

Nearly 10,000 Firearms Removed from the Streets Since Program Began in 2009

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, gang intervention and prevention service providers, and victim advocacy organizations, announced today the locations for the Citywide Gun Buyback program aimed at reducing the levels of gun violence in Los Angeles. The Gun Buyback will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at four locations throughout the City.

An initiative of the Mayor's Gang Reduction and Youth Development Office (GRYD), the 2013 Gun Buyback will reward the voluntary surrender of firearms while engaging the community towards a common goal of reducing gun violence. In partnership with the LAPD and numerous community and faith-based organizations, the Gun Buyback effort will secure four neutral locations throughout the City where individuals can surrender their firearms—no questions asked.

In exchange for the firearm, the individual will receive a Ralphs grocery card. The amount per firearm will depend on its type, up to $200 for assault weapons as specified in the State of California and up to $100 for handguns, rifles, and shotguns. The LAPD Gun Unit will be on site to determine the type of classification of the firearm surrendered.

The Gun Buyback Program has collected nearly 10,000 firearms from across the City since 2009. The GRYD office worked with the LAPD, media partner KCAL 9/KCBS 2, and numerous community organizations to plan and outreach for the event.

The Gun Buyback Program will be held at the following four locations throughout the City:

Central Los Angeles
LAPD Northeast Area
Los Angeles Fire Department
Frank Hotchkins Training Academy
1700 Stadium Way
Los Angeles, CA 90012

South Los Angeles
LAPD Harbor Area
Park & Ride Parking Lot
1300 West Pacific Coast Highway
Wilmington, CA 90744

South Los Angeles
LAPD 77th Area
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
7900 South Western Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90047

Valley
LAPD Van Nuys Area
Van Nuys Masonic Building Association
14750 Sherman Way
Van Nuys, CA 91405