Kirkland's 'Guns For Gift Cards' Returns Later This Month

KIRKLAND, WA — The Kirkland Police Department will welcome residents back this month for the third iteration of its popular "Guns for Gift Cards" firearm exchange program, which paid out more than $18,000 over two events during the summer. The inaugural June event took in 91 guns, and a July event took in another 60 in just two hours.

Kirkland announced the voluntary gun exchange program earlier this year as part of a broader effort to reduce gun-related deaths.

“We had overwhelming positive response at our earlier events,” said Kirkland City Councilmember Neal Black. “It’s great for residents to have an extra incentive to voluntarily relinquish unwanted guns to help reduce the likelihood of accidental injuries and deaths, deaths from suicide, and thefts of unsecured firearms.”

Guns for Gift Cards

• When: Oct. 29, 2022 (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
• Where: Kirkland Justice Center (11750 NE 118th St.)

This month's event is scheduled to take place at the Kirkland Justice Center on Oct. 29. As with the previous two events, visitors are asked to stay in their vehicles and arrive with guns unloaded, placed in the trunk or backseat of their vehicles so officers can easily remove them.

Residents do not need to register to participate but will need to provide proof of Kirkland residency, like a utility bill. According to city officials, officers on site will review the address to confirm eligibility but will not record any identifying information, allowing participants to remain anonymous.

Each firearm returned is eligible for preloaded Visa gift cards valued between $25 and $250.

Here is the scale:

• Obvious non-working firearms and pellet guns: $25
• Bolt-action rifles and shotguns: $100
• Handguns: $200
• Rifles (AR or AK style rifles): $250

>> Learn more about participating in Kirkland's Guns for Gift Cards program on the city's website.