Guns slated for destruction

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is planning to use up to $28,500 in confiscated funds to offer Walmart gift cards to North County residents willing to turn over unwanted firearms.

The latest installment of the department's "guns for gift cards" program is scheduled this Saturday (October 24) at the San Marcos station located at 182 Santar Place. Deputies are offering $50 for rifles and shotguns, $100 for handguns, and $150 for assault weapons, with a maximum trade of $200 per vehicle.

Residents wishing to participate in the trade-in are asked to bring their weapons unloaded and secured in the trunks of their vehicles to the station between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Cash to purchase the gift cards comes primarily from the sheriff's asset forfeiture fund, with the Oceanside and Carlsbad police departments kicking in $2500 and $1000, respectively.

While the long-running program hasn't been offered in some time, two years ago, events in San Marcos and Encinitas resulted in the collection of over 1100 firearms, according to a department press release. All of the guns collected at the event are slated for destruction.