City Council
MEETING DATE: 7/11/2018
TITLE:
Title
"Gift for Guns" Program
End
FROM:
Travis Walker, Chief of Police
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Informational Report for Discussion and Direction
Body
BACKGROUND:
In an effort to reduce the number of unwanted firearms that exist in our communities, the Cathedral City Police Department would like to conduct a "Gift for Guns" program to help remove firearms no longer wanted from our community, thus reducing the potential for these weapons cycling through illegal networks or ending up as potential hazards in homes. MPT Pettis requested that this concept be brought to the full Council for consideration.
DISCUSSION:
This Fall, the Cathedral City Police Department would like to host a one-day "Gift for Guns" program at a secure location within the city. The event will be advertised in advance with an emphasis that no questions are asked of those who hand over their unwanted firearms. The Gift for Guns program will provide individuals who turn in unwanted firearms with gift cards to local businesses according to a basic price menu that we will establish. The firearms collected will be checked against law enforcement databases and ultimately destroyed. Any stolen firearms that are recovered will be returned to the rightful owners. The firearms recovered will ultimately be melted down and turned into steel rebar; the rebar is used for a variety of construction projects.
It is our intent to seek monetary donations from within our community to purchase the gift cards that will be provided in exchange for firearms.
It is our desire to see the "Gifts for Guns" program help ensure that we help provide the means for members of our community to safely dispose of their unwanted firearms, while receiving a monetary reward for doing so. The ultimate removal of these firearms will help prevent them from ending up in the hands of the criminal element.
FISCAL IMPACT:
It is our intent to raise the nece...
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