Memphis Grizzlies to give tickets during gun exchange

The City of Memphis (TN) has announced a “judgement-free” gun exchange program, where anyone with a gun can exchange it for gas cards and Memphis Grizzlies tickets. The goal of the program is to get as many guns of the Memphis streets as possible.
The City, the Grizzlies and Mapco, a Tennessee-based company that operates 377 convenience stores, will be on hand at the Bloomfield Baptist Church on Saturday between 10am and 2pm to give residents a $50 Mapco Gas Card for up to three guns turned in ($150 max). Each person turning in guns will also be handed two tickets to an upcoming Memphis Grizzlies pre-season game.
“We’re doing everything we can to get guns off the streets,” said Memphis Police Department director Toney Armstrong.
There will be a “no questions asked” policy at the exchange and any guns turned in will be destroyed. Armstrong is stressing that they guns will not be tested or inspected to determine if they were every used in a crime, they just want the guns off the streets.
“This is a judgment-free zone,” said Armstrong. “You can just turn in the gun and simply walk away. We just want the guns.””It’s a very exciting and innovative opportunity to make a difference in the community,” said Rev. Ralph White, pastor of Bloomfield Baptist, at 123 S. Parkway West.
Over 1,600 guns were reported stolen in Memphis last year, Mayor A.C. Wharton said, “Those guns didn’t just evaporate and disappear. Somebody knows where those guns are. It may be a mother who found it under the bed or in a shoe in the closet,’ Wharton continued. “She’s torn between snitching on her son and getting that gun out. We want to get that gun out and get it off the street.”
Along with the exchange program, the City will offer a seminar aimed at youth entitled, “Done with Guns.” Ex-felons, ex-gang members and victims of gun violence will be speakers at the event.
“We’re going to be talking about the dangers of guns,” said City Councilman Myron Lowery. “We know we have to speak to young people.”
Over the last 18 years Lowery has conducted similar programs that have resulted in the turnover of more than 2,000 weapons. His last event in 2009 results in people lining up hours in advance to collect a $100 gift card from either Kroger (grocery store) or the New York Suit Exchange. So many turn up to turn in their guns that the organizers ran out of cards after two-hours and had to hand out rain checks.
In Baton Rouge, LA, a similar program, inspired by Lowery’s successes, resulted in 165 guns being bought back from residents. A Nashville, TN program gained 260 weapons during a “Gas for Guns” program and in Los Angeles 1,673 guns have been collected over four events from 2000-2011.