SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) -- A local church is taking a stand on gun violence and serving as one of four drop-off locations for an Oakland County gun buyback event.
This Saturday, October 22, gun owners can dispose of unwanted handguns, rifles and assault rifles at St. David's Episcopal Church in Southfield between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
To participate in the gun buyback, residents are asked to place their gun in the trunk of their car and pull up to the church parking lot, where a police officer will exchange the gun for a gift card.
$100 gift cards are being offered for handguns, with $200 and $300 gift cards available for rifles and assault rifles, respectively.
Reverend Chris Yaw spoke to WWJ's Luke Sloan about gun violence and why he chose to offer his church as a location for the gun buyback.
"This is an issue that strikes at the heart of who we are as Americans and as Metro Detroiters," Yaw said. "We want peace. We want safety. We want to care for our neighbors."
Yaw also said that the problem of gun violence starts with easy access to guns.
"We happen to have more guns in our country than we have people," Yaw said. "And access to guns -- time and time again -- has shown that it causes people to use them."
Other drop-off locations are the Royal Oak Police Department, the Auburn Hills Police Department, and Ferndale City Hall.
More information about the Oakland County gun buyback program is available on the county website.
