Sacramento Police Department's gun buyback offered gas gift cards in exchange for firearms

Amid soaring gas prices, the Sacramento Police Department held a gun buyback program that offered $50 gas gift cards in exchange for firearms.

The department noted in a tweet that it depleted its entire supply of gift cards.

"Due to overwhelming response, we have exhausted our supply of gift cards for today's gun exchange," the department tweeted on Saturday. "We will still be accepting firearms but unfortunately we will not be providing gift cards from this point on. This event will be ending one hour early and will run until 4 p.m."

The police department reported that 134 weapons were turned over during the buyback event.

"The event provided a safe and efficient process for community members to turn in unwanted firearms to the Sacramento Police Department with no questions asked and no identification required," a press release noted. "Over 100 members of the community responded to Saturday's event which was staffed by Sacramento Police Department officers and community partners who facilitated the safe exchange of firearms for $50 gas gift cards.

"Among other reasons, community members most commonly cited a lack of experience or knowledge with firearms, lack of knowledge of the legality of the firearms, or an inability to safely store the firearms as the main reasons for participating in the exchange," the release continued. "Among the firearms received was at least one assault weapon, numerous components for privately manufactured firearms (ghost guns), and multiple other illegally configured firearms."

Americans have been feeling the pinch at the gas pump. As of Monday, the AAA national average price for a gallon of regular gas has reached $4.596. But that figure is dwarfed by the AAA California average, which has reached a staggering $6.069 per gallon.

A recent AP-NORC poll of adults found that 44% thought high gas prices are more the consequence of President Joe Biden's policies, while 56% thought the prices are more due to issues beyond the president's control.