A no-questions-asked gun buyback at two Birmingham public housing communities led to the surrender of 30 weapons, the majority of them in working order.

The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District on Saturday held the voluntary gun buybacks at Morton Simpson Village in the Kingston neighborhood and Marks Village in the Gate City neighborhood, both scenes of gun violence in the past.

Authorities offered up to $50 per gun, and took in 26 working handguns and long guns as well as four guns no longer in working condition: a Marlin Bolt-Action 12-Gauge shotgun, a Springfield 20-gauge shotgun, a .22 short single shot bolt action rifle and a .32-caliber 6-shot revolver. They said they deemed the initiative a success.

The gun buybacks were open to both housing authority residents and the overall community. The Birmingham Police Department partnered with HABD and disposed of the firearms in the no-questions-asked transactions.

"I was struck when I spoke to one man who came with his wife and child to turn in some guns. They came before we officially opened the doors. I asked him why, and he said, 'This is for my family,'" said HABD President and CEO Michael Lundy. "We all have a role to play in making our streets, neighborhoods and cities safe for our children, and this was just one step."

The buyback events are part of beefed-up efforts by the housing authority to address violence in the communities.

Earlier this month - on Nov. 3 - a public safety town hall meeting was held in Birmingham's Morton Simpson Village in the Kingston community as authorities continue to try to enhance crime-fighting efforts in the city's public housing communities.

A similar event was held last month at Marks Village in the Gate City community after two women and two men were shot, one of them fatally, on Sept. 11. Bobby Clayton, 20, died shortly after arriving at UAB Hospital. The shooting happened at 8:15 p.m. that Sunday, about an hour after the 1st Annual Stop the Violence Gate City Peace Day. The event was held in the Gate City's Lewis Park, about four blocks from where the shooting happened.

Following that shooting, Lundy submitted an eight-point plan to the housing authority board which included hiring a director of public safety, increasing patrols, hosting the town hall meetings, working closer with police, holding gun buy-back program and establishing a community watch. As part of that, he said he would seek some form of a gun ban.

HABD will also work with the police to begin greater enforcement of the city curfew for juveniles. New signs will soon be erected around the community to reflect the curfew enforcement.

Lundy said there is no single solution and each initiative works to support the other.

"In addition to collecting the firearms, the buyback was also a chance for us all to become more immersed in the communities we serve, talk to residents, and make a pronounced statement of support for public safety," Lundy said.