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Everett trades $25K in gift cards for firearms

caption: Firearms that were turned into the Everett Police Department on Dec. 17, 2022 in exchange for gift cards. EPD paid out $25,000 in gift cards in exchange for the guns.
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Firearms that were turned into the Everett Police Department on Dec. 17, 2022 in exchange for gift cards. EPD paid out $25,000 in gift cards in exchange for the guns.
Everett Police Department

Hundreds of unwanted firearms have been turned into the Everett Police Department after the city held its first ever Guns for Gift Cards event, Dec. 17, 2022.

The exchange, held at the city's precinct on Everett Mall Way, brought in 241 firearms.

  • 123 handguns
  • 109 long guns
  • 9 AR and AK style rifles

Weapons like AR-15s and AK-47s were worth up to $300. Handguns were worth up to $200. Rifles and shotguns got $100, and $25 were paid for inoperable firearms.

The city paid $25,000 in gift cards for the entire haul.

According to My Everett News, there were 30 cars lined up ahead of the event. The police department ran out of gift cards before everyone was seen. With no gift cards, some gun owners opted to keep their firearms. Others turned them in anyway.

The department says the goal of the event is to get unwanted guns out of homes where they could be stolen, or used in a tragic accident or as part of a suicide.

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