SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Faith leaders from across southeast Michigan have come together to host a series of gun buybacks.
The first one is set to take place July 13 at St. David’s in Southfield. Father Chris Yaw says the guns collected will all also be destroyed on site.
“We found it’s very difficult to get guns that people actually want destroyed, destroyed,” said Yaw.
At the end of 2023, Yaw and others were shocked to learn the guns they had collected at an earlier buyback weren’t always destroyed.
The company that previously collected them salvaged parts and put them back into circulation.
It’s why saws will be at every gun buyback event, chopping them up as they come in.
“This expedites the process, also gives the people the experience of seeing their weapon destroyed and happen right there for them,” Yaw said.
In exchange, folks will get a gift card or a unique piece of framed art made using old gun parts.
People will also be able to craft art from their surrendered guns.
The announcement of the gun buybacks comes days after a violent weekend in Metro Detroit where one person was killed and 19 others were injured across multiple shootings, including one at a splash pad in Rochester Hills.
The events will take place on Saturdays in July through November from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the following locations:
- July 13 – St. David’s, Southfield – 16200 W 12 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48076
- August 3 – Nativity, Bloomfield – 21220 W 14 Miles Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
- August 24 – Church of the Messiah, Detroit – 231 E Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48207
- September 28 0 All Saints, Pontiac – 71 W Pike St. Pontiac, MI 48341
- October 5 – St. Andrew’s, Waterford – 53-1 Hatchery Rd., Waterford Twp, MI 48329
- November 9 – St. Aidan’s – 1679 Broadway, Ann Arbor, MI 48105