A gun exchange today in the Emerald Hills neighborhood resulted in 232 weapons exchanged for a total of $20,000 in gift cards and almost 40 skateboards, according to a minister who helped organize the event.
Now in its seventh year, the exchange was "excellent," said Rev. Gerald Brown of the United African American Ministerial Action Council.
People who showed up at Bryco Business Park at 5275 Market St. turned in handguns, rifles and several assault weapons, Brown said.
The action council worked with the San Diego County District Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Department, both of which donated the gift cards, Brown said, adding Carver Skateboards and Longboarding for Peace donated the skateboards.
Brown said the gun exchange is not meant as a debate over Second Amendment rights, but instead is intended "to promote peace in our community."
"This 1/8was 3/8 a collaborative work of the faith community, law enforcement and skaters," he added.
Brown said the action council started its gun exchange in 2009, in reaction to the deaths of San Diego teens Monique Palmer and Michael Taylor, who were fatally shot in 2009 in the Valencia Park neighborhood.
Since that time 1,500 guns have been returned, Brown said.
