After a strong turnout in 2010, local government is again partnering with Circle K for a second “Gas for Guns” exchange program Saturday, with an added bonus.
The trade-in will take place at Glen Oaks Baptist Church at 7200 Maplewood Drive and at the Living Faith Christian Center at 6375 Winbourne Ave.
Last year, citizens could exchange unwanted guns — with no questions asked — for gas vouchers to Circle K. Handguns under .38 caliber received $50 in gas while anything above turned out $100 and $200.
A reported 262 firearms were collected in 2010, according to Scott Dyer, spokesman for East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden.
The program has added extra emphasis to assault weapons this year by upping the trade-in value to $300.
“They’re paying more because the higher-caliber weapons seem to be the weapons of choice for some of the people committing crimes,” Dyer said.
But criminals aren’t necessarily the primary target of the drive.
“They’re not really looking to get hardened criminals as much as grandparents and parents who have kids and who may have firearms,” Dyer said. “It would make the house and street and neighborhood safer.”
Of the $40,000 worth of voucher money for last year’s drive, a reported $16,600 was given away, leaving $23,400 to roll over for Saturday’s exchange program. According to the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s office, $15,000 of that was put forward by Circle K.
The remaining $25,000 was contributed by the mayor, city police, sheriff and the district attorney. All of the money from these government agencies came from drug forfeiture funds from drug busts, Dyer said.
 
 
 
____
contact Clayton Crockett at [email protected]