SAN ANTONIO — Hundreds traded in guns for groceries on Sunday afternoon in the Alamodome parking lot.
District 9 City Councilman John Courage hosted the city’s first-ever voluntary gun exchange event. People were allowed to exchange guns for HEB gift cards.
Courage said they raised more than $175,000 for the event and ended up with $160,000 worth of gift cards.
The event was slated to run from noon until 5 p.m. Sunday but by about 2 p.m., organizers ran out of gift cards.
He said more than 900 guns were collected.
“What we had hoped to be able to do is get as many weapons out of people’s homes that they no longer feel are safe or wanted in their homes so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands,” Courage said.
Each vehicle could turn in as many weapons as they wanted to. Broken or home-made guns got you a $50 gift card. Rifles and shotguns were exchanged for $150 gift cards. Handguns were exchanged for $200 gift cards and semi-auto rifles were being exchanged for $300 gift cards.
Many people were turning in old hunting guns.
“I don’t hunt no more,” a man in line said. “If they broke into a house, they might steal them, they might hurt somebody.”
Courage said police are destroying the guns unless it is reported stolen. Then, they will track down the owner.
“These weapons will not harm anybody, kill anybody or commit a crime in this city and I think that’s an important part of public safety in our city,” Courage said.
As participants drove in and out of the Alamodome, 2,000 t-shirts lined the fence, representing gun violence victims.
“Gun violence has been too prevalent in our community these last few years and the community is standing up and saying enough is enough and this is one way of trying to prevent more gun violence within the home,” Courage said.
Courage said they will have to plan another event considering the turnout.