ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida’s 18th annual gun buy-back program, “Kicks 4 Guns,” hosted by Real Radio and Crimeline, will take place on Thursday.
In Orlando, participants can either get a gift card or a pair of shoes in exchange for guns, which can be turned in from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Camping World Stadium.
There are 15 locations across the region, and each law enforcement agency handles the program differently. In Orlando, it's a drive-through operation in which people can pull up and drop off guns with no questions asked.
Orlando police said participants should leave their unloaded guns in their trunks, and officers will safely remove them.
Over the past two decades, nearly 10,000 guns and weapons, including high-powered rifles, grenades and a rocket launcher, have been turned in.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is also one of the more than a dozen law enforcement agencies participating in the program.
The Sheriff’s Office offers residents a $50 Walmart gift card in exchange for guns that people are looking to get rid of in an effort to keep guns off the streets.
“This is our seventh year participating in Kicks 4 Guns, and its success is undeniable,” said Sheriff Ben Johnson.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that getting so many unwanted guns out of circulation has prevented crimes and accidental injuries.”
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office alone has collected in excess of 600 unwanted firearms since 2010.
The Sheriff’s Office’s dropoff point at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E. New York Ave., just east of DeLand, will be open on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
They will also accept BB guns and replica guns, but will not be offering gift cards in exchange for them.
Gift cards are limited to one per household.
The Kissimmee Police Department, as well as several other law enforcement agencies, will be hosting dropoff sites on Thursday. For a full list of agencies participating, click here.