Hundreds of firearms are off Central Florida's streets amid the annual Kicks for Guns event Thursday.

  • Kicks for Guns allows people to surrender firearms anonymously
  • People who turn in guns can also get a $50 gift card
  • Number of firearms surrendered is down from past years

Law enforcement officials urged people to turn in firearms for $50 gift cards and the opportunity to remain anonymous.

At Camping World Stadium in downtown Orlando, at least two stolen guns were turned in, among 61 weapons. Those include 40 handguns, 10 shotguns and 10 rifles.

Police say the event, in its 18th year, keeps deadly guns from falling into the wrong hands.

"If people do not have to have weapons and they bring them here, that is good for the community," said Antonio Santiago of Orlando. Santiago dropped off his Taurus revolver that he'd had for more than 30 years.

"I got a pistol permit, but the idea is for these people who are not supposed to have weapons, for them to come here and not be questioned," Santiago said.

RealRadio, the organizer of the event, said a few years ago, almost 2,000 guns had been turned in. Although numbers are down this year, police think this event still can help curb violence in the community.

"People can bring guns or have the police pick up their guns any time, but it's not going to be anonymous like it is now, and it's not going to allow people to get compensation for it," Orlando Police Master Sgt. Kelly Lowe said.

Lowe said there is no research that shows this event lowers crime, but law enforcement officials are still grateful to have it.


Deputies man a Kicks for Guns station in Volusia County on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (Harvey Porchia, staff)