MADISON, Wis. — Dane County authorities collected more than 500 weapons during its inaugural Gift Cards for Guns event over the weekend.
In total, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office collected 577 firearms of various kinds in exchange for $43,380 worth of gas and grocery gift cards.
“We’re very pleased with the results from this effort to interrupt the access to guns in our community. It’s important to remember that we will never know if we have prevented an injury or death. We can’t measure something that did not happen,” Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said. “But by providing this opportunity for people to safely dispose of their unwanted firearms, we can undoubtedly say that these guns will never be used in a crime, a suicide, a domestic violence incident or an accident.”
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Among the weapons collected were 333 long guns including rifles, shotguns, and 11 assault-style rifles; 95 handguns; 93 pellet/BB/paintball guns; one crossbow pistol; 55 homemade weapons including 3D-printed guns; and 380 pounds of ammunition. A total of 266 cars went through the line during the event.
The Dane County Board in late July approved $50,000 in funds to pay for gift cards and staff overtime. Community groups and businesses — including MG&E, Tellurian, Robinia Courtyard, and the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County — donated an additional $8,525 in gift cards to put toward the program.
County officials said some people who donated their guns declined the gift cards offered to them, meaning $1,400 in gift cards were available to give to others.
All of the serial numbers for the guns turned in during the event were checked, and none of them were listed as stolen.
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