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Community Corner

Gun Buyback in OC? Not an Option

Want some cash in exchange for your rifle or pistol? No such luck, but you can still turn it in, says the OCSD.

Correction: An earlier version of this story said 2,000 guns had been surrendered in Los Angeles since 2009. The correct figure is more than 10,000.

Orange County officials say they have no plans to copy a Los Angeles program that pays gun owners to surrender their firearms.

In L.A.'s most recent "gun buyback" event, more than 2,000 weapons were collected, bringing the total number of firearms surrendered to more than 10,000 since 2009, city officials said.

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During the latest campaign, 901 handguns, 698 rifles, 363 shotguns and 75 assault weapons were turned in at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena and the Van Nuys Masonic Temple.

In exchange, participants received Ralphs gift cards: up to $200 for assault weapons and up to $100 for handguns, rifles and shotguns.

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However, if you live in Orange County and want something in exchange for your gun, forget it. You can still turn a weapon in, but “we do not do gun buybacks," said Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Gail Krause. "Citizens can surrender their firearms to us for safe destruction, but we do not provide incentives for the surrender."

To surrender a firearm to Sheriff's Department service areas, call 714-647-7000 for North County or 949-770-6011 for South County and "a deputy can go to their home to pick up the firearm," she said.

--City News Service contributed to this report. Photo, courtesy GunNewsDaily.com

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