The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office held a firearms buyback program at five locations on Saturday.

Even an hour before the HCSO gun swap was set to start, dozens of cars lined up to turn in their firearms.

Deputies collected 2,541 firearms, including at least 11 stolen guns, and hundreds of illegal weapons.



“I’ve got an old rifle I’m not using so I figured I could turn it in and make 75 bucks,” said Lance Ingold.

Hundreds of people dropped off boxes of ammo, old shotguns and hundreds of handguns for $75 and a Tampa Bay "fan pack" with ticket vouchers for a Lightning and Rays game, deputies said.



People like Virginia Cunningham say it was a safe way to be proactive.

“I don’t want it around anymore. I’m upset about the violence right now which is happening more and more. So I thought this morning, just do it and get rid of it,” said Cunningham.

It was the sheriff’s office’s first gun swap in more than five years and they say they’re impressed with the turnout.

“It’s been overwhelming,” said Capt. Chad Chronister, HCSO.

HCSO says they’re not only surprised by the number of guns they’ve gotten, they’re also surprised by the kind.

“We’ve been getting a variety of guns; everything from handguns to shotguns to revolvers and rifles. I just got the call that out at our Dover location, someone turned in a rocket launcher,” Capt. Chronister said.

Two rocket launchers were turned in.

The sheriff’s office says at the end of the day it’s about getting the weapons off the street and out of the wrong hands.

So many people turned in guns deputies ran out of money and tickets and had to start giving out vouchers.

Vouchers distributed can be exchanged at all same five locations for Saturday's event, on February 9th-10th from 9am to 2pm:

Sheriff's Operations Center/ 2008 E. 8th Avenue

Sunoco Gas Station/ 13501 N. Nebraska Avenue

IGA Grocery Store/ 14720 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Sheriff's Town 'N Country Substation/ 7519 W. Waters Avenue

Sheriff's Progress Village Substation/ 7935 Flower Avenue

Every firearm collected Saturday will be destroyed.