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Gas for Guns intended to cut crime PDF Print E-mail
County News
Friday, 08 August 2008 11:14
By Juliana A. Torres
Staff Writer
On Thursday Aug. 14, residents will be able to turn their guns into $50 worth of gas.
For the first time, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office will host a Gas for Guns program to collect unwanted guns. In exchange for firearms, deputies will give out $50 gas cards.
“It’s part of crime prevention,” Sheriff Bob Hansell said. “If we can take guns that are no longer wanted, it lessens the risk of them falling in the hands of criminals or juveniles.”
The event will be at the Primera Iglesia Cristiana, 2440 Boggy Creek Road, Kissimmee, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m.
Crimeline, the anonymous tip hotline, hosts a similar event in Orlando called Kicks for Guns, where residents receive a pair of shoes for their guns.
“We kicked around an idea to do something like that in Osceola County,” Hansell said. “We thought, ‘Gas is a much-wanted commodity now, maybe it’ll inspire people to bring some unwanted guns in.’”
 The program is paid with money seized in the Sheriff’s Office’s investigation of felony crimes, usually drug-related. Called a forfeiture fund, money seized must be invested into one-time projects that target drug-related crime prevention, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Twis Lizasuain said.
The agency is investing $3,000 from the forfeiture fund into the new gun collection program. The Sheriff’s Office has purchased 50 gas cards and will be able to purchase more if needed, Hansell said.
“I don’t know what type of turnout we’ll have,” Lizasuain said.
Anyone turning in firearms is allowed to do so anonymously, with no questions asked. Hansell said his department didn’t have any expectations for the type firearms Osceola County residents might bring to them. Those offered in the Orlando-based event were varied.
“People brought in everything from small handguns to rocket launchers,” Hansell said. “We’ll be surprised by anything we get.”
All firearms should be in a plastic bag, unloaded and safely-secured. If you cannot unload the gun, the Sheriff’s Office asks that you leave it in your vehicle and a deputy will remove it for you.
The agency is partnering with radio station Rumba 100.3 to help promote the event.
“We’re just hoping it will be a big success,” Hansell said.
 

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