San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today joined State and City elected leaders, Police Chief Bill Scott, and anti-gun violence advocates to promote the United Playaz Gun Buy-back event, which will be held this Saturday, December 9 at the United Playaz Clubhouse located at 1038 Howard Street. The gun buy-back event provides a place for people to turn in weapons for payment, no questions asked, and get guns off the streets and out of communities.
Since 2014, the Gun Buy-Back program has been in operation and collected more than 2,500 guns. In exchange for payment, people may turn in a handgun for $100 and assault weapons for $200. San Francisco ranks as one of the cities with the lowest violent crime rates in the country and continues to see a decrease in gun violence. Year to date, the City has seen a 4% decrease in gun violence compared to last year.
“Every day we are working aggressively to ensure gun violence incidents continue to decrease, and while San Francisco has one of the lowest rates of violence in the country, we know there is still so much work to do,” said Mayor London Breed. “Partnered efforts like this prove how much can get done when government and community can work together, whether it be gun buy-back events or advocating for and passing safety legislation, together we must continue to put in the work to fight for safer communities and a safer San Francisco.”
As part of Mayor Breed’s budget investments, MOHCD provides annual funding of more than $60,000 annually that directly supports United Playaz gun buy-back events and efforts. Additionally, MOHCD also provides over $160,000 in funding for three other projects, including school site coordination at Bessie Carmichael Elementary School, a youth collaborative among a number of SOMA-based neighborhood groups that serves up to 300 San Francisco families and children, and workforce development for youth.
"The San Francisco Police Department is committed to the ambitious goal of eliminating gun violence in our city,” said Chief Bill Scott. “Gun violence has led to so much pain and trauma in our communities, and our officers work diligently to bring justice to victims and get firearms off our streets. We will continue to work together with our city and community partners to make our city safer.”
“United Playaz' gun buyback program is a testament to our collective commitment to safer communities,” said District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey. “By incentivizing people to exchange their guns for a brighter future, we can empower them to play an important role in reducing violence and fostering a culture of peace."
United Playaz and the San Francisco Police Department aim to host a Gun Buy-Back Program at least twice a year, purchasing firearms with no questions asked using funding from several donors and the City including the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development. The firearms are then confiscated and melted down, with the parts recycled to create jewelry and other goods that are sold for profits that go to financing future gun buy-backs. Funding for the gun buy-back is provided by MOHCD, prior gun buy-back sales, and philanthropic donations.
"It takes all hands-on deck to end senseless gun violence,” said Rudy Corpuz, Executive Director for United Playaz. “As I always say, ‘It takes the hood, to save the hood.”
Event Details: Gun Buy-Back Event
United Playaz
1038 Howard St., San Francisco, CA
Saturday, December 9, 2023
8:00am – 12:00pm
United Playaz is a violence prevention and youth development organization that has worked in San Francisco for 25 years. The UP Clubhouse is located in the heart of San Francisco’s SoMa district. Their dedicated team share similar backgrounds with the youth they serve, and they work with the key insight that communities prosper from within. Their goal is to maintain a consistent ‘home’ that most of their kids lack in other facets of their daily lives. The youth that gather at UP are very diverse; Samoan, African-American, Latino, Asian, White, and multi-racial youth are encouraged to break barriers, recognize their similarities, and form friendships.
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