The community is invited to trade their unwanted, unloaded firearms for cash during an anonymous gun swap in Tampa. Hosted by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 — rain or shine.
The swap will take place in two locations: in front of the Falkenburg Road Jail (520 N. Falkenburg Road) and at the Hillsborough County West Service Unit (9805 Sheldon Road).
No ID is required to exchange a firearm, and the sheriff’s office will offer $50 in cash per gun (BB guns and the like aren’t accepted). The guns that deputies collect are then destroyed.
“There will be no questions asked and no paperwork to sign,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister in a YouTube video promoting the upcoming event. “It will be fast and easy.”
When the last swap was held at five locations in 2013, deputies received 2,541 guns, including at least 12 stolen firearms and hundreds of illegal weapons. They also gave out $55,000 an hour into the event.
“Please take advantage of this great program to properly dispose of that unwanted handgun or long gun,” Chronister continued. “Eliminate the chance that a firearm is lost or stolen and ends up in the wrong hands. Put it in our hands and get some money to boot.”
