AUBURN GRESHAM — Following through with a promise he made in April to rid his South Side community of illegal guns, the Rev. Michael Pfleger will host a gun buyback day on Aug 16.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. later this month at St. Sabina, 1210 W. 78th Place, and no questions will be asked to anyone turning in a "working" gun, Pfleger said.
"Obviously, we don't want a broken down piece of metal being turned in so we will have a law enforcement officer on site to examine all guns turned in," Pfleger said.
The gun buyback is for only for the first 150 people between 16 and 30 years old. Those who turn in a gun will receive either a $100 gift card or a pair of adidas gym shoes, Pfleger said. Gift cards will be distributed at the event, but those who choose to receive gym shoes will have to come back within a week to pick them up.
"There will be a list of shoes they can choose from that adidas will provide us," Pfleger said. "I want to target this age group because research has shown that gun violence has the greatest impact on this group the most."
Pfleger is also encouraging residents to turn in those who sell illegal guns.
"Anybody that knows somebody who is out here selling guns on the street, give me their information. And if we catch them I will give you $5,000 just to turn in a gun runner because I want the gun runners off the street," Pfleger said. "Warm weather cannot turn into bloody streets."
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