PRESS RELEASE DETAIL
For release: IMMEDIATELY
Release Date: 03/30/2017
Mayor Broome, BRAVE Host “Gas for Guns” Exchange
Office of Mayor-President
City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge
SHARON WESTON BROOME
Mayor-President
March 30, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Dr. Tamiara Wade, Asst. Chief Administrative Officer, (225) 389-3100
Michelle McCalope, Communications Office: (225) 389-7957
BATON ROUGE – In an effort to reduce the number of unsecured firearms on Baton Rouge streets, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination (BRAVE) and other law enforcement officials are hosting a “Gas for Guns” exchange program on Saturday, April 1.
The “no questions asked” gun buyback program, in partnership with the Circle K Corporation, BRAVE, and local and federal law enforcement agencies, will offer $50 to $300 in gas coupons for each qualifying handgun and assault weapon.
“We’re glad to partner with law enforcement and the community to host this great program which is helping to make our community safer,” Mayor Broome said.
The exchange program will be held from 10 a.m. until noon in the Elm Grove Baptist Church parking lot, 1069 N. 38th Street, in Baton Rouge.
Any functional, non-replica pistol or revolver smaller than 0.380 caliber can be exchanged for gas cards for $50. Pistols that are 0.380 caliber or greater can be swapped for gas cards totaling $100 in value. The program will pay $300 in gas cards for each “Assault Style” rifle, as long as they are a functional variant of an automatic or semi-automatic rifle that is currently in use by military forces with a caliber of 9 mm, 7.62 mm or 5.56 mm.
Any other firearm or ammunition may also be dropped off for safe disposal and destruction by law enforcement without a gas card exchange.
Officers will receive the firearms without asking questions about the donors’ identities or how they came to be in possession of the guns. The exchange program assists non-commercial, private citizens and is limited to two firearms per person until all gas cards have been exhausted.
Donors arriving by car should place their firearms in the trunk. Donors arriving on foot should place their firearms in a sealed or closed container, such as a bag, backpack or box.
Donors who are uncomfortable taking a firearm to an exchange site can call the local Police and Sheriff's office at any time to make arrangements for unwanted firearm and ammunition collection. However, gas cards will only be provided at the “Gas for Guns” program.
Every year, crimes are committed with unsecured guns that have been stolen or used without the owners’ permission. Similar Gas for Guns programs in Baton Rouge have collected 741 unsecured guns since 2010.
The East Baton Rouge “Gas for Guns” exchange program is made possible by the following community partners: Circle K Corporation, Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Baton Rouge City Police Department, Baton Rouge City Constable’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Louisiana State Police, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Baton Rouge Crimestoppers and Elm Grove Baptist Church.
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