City launches guns-for-cash program

AUSTIN (KXAN) - No questions asked. No ID needed. You can soon turn over your guns and get cash in return. It's all part of a new program to get guns off the street and hopefully reduce crime.

Next Saturday you will be able to trade it for cold hard cash.

"The main goal is just to get guns off the street that's the purpose behind this program,” said Cpl. Scott Perry of the Austin Police Department.

It is hard to hit the mark when it comes to getting people to turn in firearms,  police said, but they think they've got a bulls eye with the “Guns for Groceries Program.” They have partnered with Austin Cornerstone Church with plenty of parking and say they won't be tracking who turns the guns in.

"With this program here there are no questions asked when you turn the gun in a lot of people are apprehensive about turning firearms in because they don't know where it came from they don't know if it's been used in any crime,” said Perry.

So what will happen with the guns?

"We will check them to make sure they aren’t stolen and they belong to somebody else after we do that the guns will be destroyed if they are antique guns we will convert them into museum use,” said Perry.

They'll give you $10 for an air gun, BB gun or gun replica, $100 for handguns and rifles and $200 for assault rifles.

The program will be at Austin Cornerstone Church  at 1101 Reinli Street and runs from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. next Saturday, June 5th.

Police just ask that you unload the gun and put it and the ammunition in a separate paper bags. Also let an officer know you are there to turn in a gun and don't remove it until they ask you to.

"Hopefully in the long run it will prevent a crime from occurring in the future,” said Perry.