Gun buybacks will be held today at the Masonic Lodge in Van Nuys and the parking lot at 2379 W. Washington Blvd. between Wilton and Gramercy places in Arlington Heights.
People turning in guns will receive gift cards from Ralphs. The amount of the gift card will depend on the size of the gun.
People turning in assault weapons will receive gift cards worth up to $200 each while those turning in handguns, rifles and shotguns will receive gift cards worth up to $100.
The gun buybacks will be conducted from 7 am to 2 pm The Van Nuys Masonic Lodge is at 14750 Sherman Way.
The Los Angeles Police Department advised people bringing guns to the buyback sites to put them in the trunks of their vehicles and be certain they are unloaded.
More than 13,000 guns have been collected since the program began in 2009, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti.
The effectiveness of gun buyback programs have been questioned by some critics.
A 2004 report by the National Academy of Sciences titled “Firearms and Violence: A Critical Review” found that “the theory underlying gun buyback programs is badly flawed, and the empirical evidence demonstrates the ineffectiveness of these programs.”
The report found that guns that are typically surrendered in buyback programs are those that are least likely to be used in criminal activities, such as guns that are old or malfunctioning.
More information on the program is available by calling 877.LAPD.247.
