Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004 | 9:26 a.m.
In an attempt to take guns off the streets, North Las Vegas Police will trade gift certificates for guns in December.
The gun buyback program, believed to be the first in at least 10 years for the city, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 4 in a Wal-Mart parking lot at 1807 W. Craig Road.
Police Capt. Joe Chronister said he hoped the department would hold such a buyback every year from now on.
The City Council on Wednesday voted 5-0 to free up $5,000 for the buyback. Chronister said they hoped to get corporate donations for the program, too.
The program will offer gift certificates -- to either Wal-Mart, Home Depot or another store -- worth $100 in exchange for rifles, $50 for handguns and $20 for BB guns and pellet guns, Chronister said.
"We want to get those unwanted guns off the street," Chronister said.
City Manager Gregory Rose said the city will have the guns that are collected melted after checking to see if they are stolen.
Rose said that while the city will not ask for names and addresses from those turning in guns for gift certificates, if the police discover one of the guns was used in a crime they will investigate.
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