Los Angeles offers gift cards for guns in buyback program

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles city leaders and police held a gun buyback program Saturday aimed at getting firearms out of homes and off the streets.

Residents could anonymously drop off their weapons until 2 p.m. at the parking lot at 2379 West Washington Boulevard in West LA and at the Masonic Temple at 14750 Sherman Way in Van Nuys.

In exchange, participants received a $100 Ralph's gift card for hand guns, shotguns and rifles or a $200 gift card for assault rifles.

"We don't know how many lives we save. We don't know how many accidents we prevent, but we know that we have, so that's why we keep doing this," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

A total tally of guns collected Saturday is expected to be released on Monday.

Since the initiative started in 2009, 13,000 guns have been turned in, city officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.