Dozens of guns turned over to Austin police for “No Questions Asked” surrender program

AUSTIN, Texas - Gun after gun and ammunition after ammunition, dozens of people turned out to APD’s gun surrender event.

"I am bringing some old ammunition from my father's workbench," said Frances Rickard who was at the event to surrender ammunition.
 
While this is a "No Questions Asked" surrender, Rickard didn't mind answering a few questions, like what brought her out here.

"My mother doesn't want it around the house anymore so when we saw this was coming up," said Rickard.

Following the passing of her father, Rickard said they never really knew what to do with all his ammunition, so they are using this APD event to do just that.

RELATED: APD to provide "no questions asked" gun surrender service

"To get rid of some dangerous, hazardous material around the house," said Rickard.
 
She's not the only one who showed. The line to surrender firearms and ammunition was almost out the door at the East Austin substation.

“Totally surprised, it's a great turn out," said Lt Gizette Gaslin with Austin police.

APD started this program after reporting an increase in guns being used in violent crimes across the city, with some of those guns being stolen from homes and cars.

"They can go to a pawn shop but I think in the end we're trying to solve the problem of just reducing the number of guns getting into the wrong hands,” said Gaslin.
 
What's next for the surrendered guns is a check to see if any of them are stolen. If not APD will go through and see which ones they want to keep, and the rest will be sent off to be destroyed.
 
Not everyone came out to surrender guns or ammo. A man had a sign saying he teaches gun safety classes and another man, who did not want to be identified, was looking to buy these guns before people turned them over to police.

"I know they can go to a pawn shop and do that themselves if they wanted to do that. If they sell it to me, it will be in good hands or if I don't keep it myself, I’ll sell it at a gun show and hopefully, it will go to good hands there," said the man.

APD hasn't released just how many guns they received. They also plan to host this event again in April, July, and October.

To learn more about the program, click here.