Gift cards for guns on March 24 in Conway

photo by flickr user Antonio Villaraigosa

 The Horry County Police Department, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Conway Police Department will host the very first 'No Questions Asked' Gun Buy Back Initiative on Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is a joint effort to reduce gun violence in our community and provides one less opportunity for a gun to fall into the wrong hands or be used for the wrong purpose by the wrong people, either during a crime or by accident. 

The event is open to the public, however in order to turn in a gun, participants must be a resident of Horry County and 18 years of age or older.  Local law enforcement will offer a $50 gift card for those turning in long gun/shotguns, a $100 gift card for handguns, and $200 in gift cards for assault rifles. All weapons must be operational and no antiques will be accepted.  There is no word on at which stores the gift cards can be redeemed.

Participants must follow all state concealed weapons laws when transporting weapons to the gun buyback site.  No more than three weapons per vehicle will be accepted and no dealers or pawnbrokers will be allowed to participate.  Also no identification will be required and no questions will be asked. All transactions will be anonymous. Free gun-locks will also be available.

The event will be held at SC National Guard Armory, located on 16th Avenue North in Conway and A Father’s Place, located at 809 Wright Boulevard, also in Conway.  Anyone that would like to make a monetary donation in support of the upcoming Gun Buy Back Initiative may do so at any Horry County State Bank branch until March 24, 2012.  For more details, you can see the full press release here

Last September there was a similar gun buy back program in Myrtle Beach where 140 weapons were collected.  According to this WBTW report, there's no way to determine if the guns turned in were likely to be used in crimes or have accidental consequences, but less guns out in the hands of the public, logically reduces the chance of injury.

For more information on the No Questions Asked Gun Buy Back Initiative, please contact the Horry County Police Department at 915-8085 or the Conway Police Department at 248-1790.