In an effort to curb shootings, California’s San Luis Obispo has set aside $12,000 in gift cards for the city’s first “Groceries for Guns” event, which is planned for this Saturday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Californians dropping off “assault rifles” will receive a $200 grocery store gift card while other rifles, handguns, and shotguns are worth $100 cards.
Non-operating guns will garner a $50 grocery store gift card.
The event is designed to clear the streets of unwanted guns that are not in use and inherited firearms that residents would like to discard but don’t know where or how to do so.
Gun enthusiasts initially perceived the event as a gun grab until San Luis Obispo Police Captain Fred Mickel explained the program is not targeting responsible gun owners.
The event comes at a time when Attorney General Rob Bonta has been criticized by gun groups for asking major credit card companies to establish a specific code to identify purchases from gun stores.
No identification is required to participate in the local event and no questions will be asked as drivers remain anonymous when they drive up and drop off the guns.
Firearms must be unloaded and packed in the trunks of cars upon arrival at the parking lot of City Corporation Yard at 25 Prado Road.
Ammunition will not be accepted, according to Mickel.
San Luis Obispo isn’t the first California city to hold a Groceries for Guns event.
Mickel used Petaluma, Sacramento, and Los Angeles County’s programs as templates.
Mickel told The Epoch Times that there is no political agenda underlying the program and that guns gathered by range masters during the four-hour event will be destroyed.
