By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
DESOTO – While many Texans might not understand why people would be willing to give up their guns, DeSoto Police Chief Joe Costa said his department is offering the chance for residents to do just that this Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 601 E. Beltline Rd., DeSoto, Texas.
For residents with unwanted guns, he said, this is a service the department is happy to offer.
“People are donating their guns to us and giving up their right to the weapon because they feel it is the right thing to do,” Costa said. “We feel we are doing a service to the community and to the people who do not want the guns, it gives them a place to take the guns and get something in return.”
For every gun surrendered the DeSoto PD will offer $100 for the first gun and $50 for any additional guns up to five guns surrendered.
The last voluntary gun surrender program in DeSoto was in 2021 and Costa said that event brought in 286 guns, with more rifles/shotguns than handguns.
Costa explained, “Many people receive guns through an inheritance or handed down through generations, and the person does not have a use for a handgun or does not want to get involved in it. We take the guns off their hands and make sure they are placed in a proper spot.”
In the case of a proper spot, for the most part, that means destroying the firearm.
In 2021 Costa said they ended up with three guns they discovered had been stolen by running the firearm’s cartridge through a system that traces stolen guns. In that case the guns were returned to the agency who reported them stolen.
No guns surrendered in 2021 traced back to a DeSoto crime.
DeSoto PD might also identify one of the surrendered guns for its firearm instructor to work with to become knowledgeable about this particular firearm for training purposes.
“Some are old and rusted guns and would work if you got up to working order,” Costa said, “We take these guns too as long as they are legitimate and can fire a shot.”
At the event in 2021 DeSoto PD found two relics that had been surrendered and these were taken to the Texas Rangers Museum in Waco where they were donated and are now being displayed as donated by the City of DeSoto.
The DeSoto Police Department is sponsoring the voluntary gun surrender program alongside Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot, and Walmart.
“People could resell their guns somewhere else, but often they do not want to go through that hassle,” Costa noted. “We have a one-stop shop where you just drop it, get your gift card, and go. We do not ask the names or information on the person. It benefits the public because taking guns off the street means they are not going to fall into the hands of people who are going to misuse the gun or use it, maybe in a robbery or some kind of violent crime.
“What we prevent and deter by getting the gun off the street is one less gun that won’t fall into the hands of someone who does not know how to use it.”
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