The annual no-questions-asked trade of guns for gift cards or skateboards will be held Saturday in Lincoln Park.

The event, hosted by local clergy and law enforcement, has taken more than 1,000 firearms off the streets since it began in 2008, the organizer has said.

A skateboard or a Walmart gift card valued at $100 will be given out for any handgun, rifle or shotgun, and $200 for assault rifles. Ammunition and explosives will not be accepted.

The guns must be operational, unloaded and brought in the back of a vehicle to the BRYCO business park at 5275 Market St., west of Euclid Avenue. The gate will open at 6 a.m., and trades will be made until the gift cards and skateboards run out - possibly by around noon, police said.


Last year, participants turned in 323 firearms of all kinds. Serial numbers were checked to see if a weapon was stolen, and if so, it was returned to the owner, police said.

The program is hosted by the United African American Ministerial Action Council. San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, Sheriff Bill Gore, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and various clergy members are expected to be present.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com