Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 10-5-18

Local
Tampa Bay Rays To Take Part In Gun Swap Saturday
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will host a Gun Swap on Saturday, October 6, 2018. During the event, partic- ipants will also have an oppor- tunity to receive a voucher for a pair of Tampa Bay Rays tick- ets.
The $50 cash and voucher for the tickets will take place on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. The
Rays are donating 5,000 tick- ets.
The first location will take place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Falkenburg Road Jail, 520 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, 33619.
The second location Gun Swap will be located in front of the Hillsborough County West Service Unit, 9805 Sheldon Road, Tampa, 33635.
Sheriff Chad Chronis- ter said, “This is about re- sponsible gun ownership. On
SHERIFF CHAD CHRONISTER
average, 240 guns were taken in car burglaries last year. As a Sheriff, I am responsible for keeping guns out of the hands of bad guys and this is just one more way of accomplishing that.”
During the event, guns can be exchanged for $50 cash at either of the two locations. The Gun Swap will be a drive-thru serv- ice. Residents will remain in their vehicles and a deputy will approach the vehicle, take the gun and give the resident an enve- lope with cash. No ID is needed. This is an anony- mous event, Sheriff Chro- nister said.
“Please take advantage of this great program to properly dispose of unwanted hand- guns or long guns. Eliminate the chance that the firearm is lost or stolen and ends up in the wrong hands. Put it in our hands and get some money to boot!,” he said.
In February 2013, deputies collected 2,541 firearms, in- cluding at least 11 stolen guns and hundreds of illegal weapons. At every one of the five locations, there were lines of cars waiting to get dispose of the unwanted weapons.
During the gun swap in 2013, deputies distributed $55,000 in cash within an hour.
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2018