The City of Miami held Round III of its 2013 gun buyback campaign Saturday in Little Havana. People were able to drop off a firearm with no questions asked, and receive gift certificates or other incentives in exchange.
Police officers and city officials were on hand at the Saint John Bosco Catholic Church at 1301 West Flagler Street. More than 30 people were already in line to turn over their weapons when the event started.
The city offered similar buyback events in Overtown and Liberty City earlier this year. According to Sargent Freddie Cruz of the Miami Police Department, 209 weapons were collected at those two events.
"I've had people turning in weapons to me personally," Cruz told Local 10's Tamika Bickham. "Some people didn't want to be identified but they've heard what we've done and they want to cooperate. They want to get guns off the street so they don't fall into the hands of criminals or young kids who don't know what to do with them."
Cruz added that city officials of tired of seeing gun violence out on the street and want to make every effort to curb it. "We're joining together, with the community, with the mayor's office, one big operation where we get these guns off the street."
People do not need to give officials their names or how they got the weapons when they turn them over. In exchange, they will be given gift cards to stores like Winn Dixie and Target.