Metro Nashville Police announced that 76 firearms were turned in on Saturday during a ‘gift cards for guns’ event at Greater Revelations Baptist Church. Out of the 76 firearms turned in, 45 of them were pistols.
Today's Gift Cards for Guns event in partnership with the @PredsFoundation & Greater Revelations Church resulted in 76 firearms, 45 of them pistols, being turned in for Kroger gift cards. This event gave residents an opportunity to exchange unsafe or unwanted guns for gift cards. pic.twitter.com/yt3FCctOb1
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) August 20, 2022
The event was hosted by the Nashville Predators Foundation empowered by Smile Direct Club in partnership with the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) and Greater Revelations Missionary Baptist Church.
Our Gift Cards for Guns buyback is underway! We will be at Greater Revelations Church till 1 p.m. Turn in an unwanted firearm for a $50 Kroger gift card! You can also turn in expired or unused medicine. pic.twitter.com/yDrmwQPVXf
— Preds Foundation (@PredsFoundation) August 20, 2022
According to a press release by the Nashville Preds Foundation, participants had the chance to turn in their firearms to members of the MNPD with no questions asked and received compensation in the form of a $50 Kroger gift card. The event also featured Nashville Preds preseason vouchers and giveaway items. In addition to turning in firearms, participants were also encouraged to drop off unused or expired prescription and nonprescription medications.
“By partnering with the Metro Nashville Police Department and Greater Revelations Missionary Baptist Church, we’re hoping to provide a judgment-free space for people in the community to surrender their guns,” Nashville Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King said prior to the event. “Through this event, we hope to make our community a safer place by reducing the amount of gun-related incidents.”
“With school back in session, there’s no better time than right now for parents, grandparents, and guardians to think hard about any guns in the home that are unwanted or unsafe that could fall into the hands of kids,” Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake explained in a social media video prior to the event.
Here's a message from Chief Drake on this Saturday's Gift Cards for Guns event being held in partnership with the @PredsNHL and the @PredsFoundation. pic.twitter.com/xcnf8AmD5D
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) August 17, 2022
In seven prior ‘gift cards for guns’ events since 2011, a total of 658 firearms were turned in, according to the Nashville Preds Foundation press release. A record 198 guns were exchanged for gift cards in a November 2017 event also held at Greater Revelations Church.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Gift Cards for Guns” by Metro Nashville PD.
