This weekend, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department teamed up with its law enforcement and community partners to help get unwanted weapons off our streets through a Guns for Gift Cards event in the South Bay.

A total of 301 unwanted firearms were turned in by the public during Saturday's event at the South Bay Courthouse parking lot located at 500 Third Avenue in Chula Vista.

Individuals received a $100 gift card for handguns, rifles and shotguns or a $200 gift card for assault weapons. 

All weapons collected will be processed.  Any firearms coming back as being involved in a crime will be followed up on with the appropriate law enforcement agency.  If any guns are found to be stolen, the original owners will be contacted.  All remaining weapons will be destroyed in accordance with the law.

The Sheriff's Department would like to thank the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, Chula Vista Police Department, San Diego Police Department, Coronado Police Department, Harbor Police Department, National City Police Department and our community partners for their support in making this Guns for Gift Cards event a success.

Most importantly, thank you to the public for helping us keep their communities safe by getting unwanted firearms off our streets.

If you have unwanted weapons and missed this weekend's buyback, join us at the next Guns for Gift Cards event in the East County:

Saturday, November 13
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
La Mesa Civic Center
4825 Date Avenue, La Mesa

To download an event flyer, click here.

The public can always turn in their unwanted weapons at any Sheriff's station or substation.  For your safety, keep the gun in the trunk of your car and await further instructions from a deputy.  For a list of Sheriff's facilities, visit: https://www.sdsheriff.gov/patrol.  You can also call the Sheriff's non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.