ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County Sheriff's Office held a gun buyback day Friday in an effort to get guns off central Florida streets, and to keep them out of the hands of criminals.
The sheriff's office said that in less than four hours, it collected almost 50 guns.
By the end of the event, 225 firearms, 32 BB guns, five sawed off shotguns, three sawed rifles and five stolen guns were collected.
Edward Willis turned in his gun, just after 7 a.m. It took Willis about one minute and 30 seconds to make the exchange.
"There's so much killing around here today, and it's useless. It's so useless," said Willis. “Get all the guns off the street, clean up the community for a better place to be.”
Willis said he decided it was time to get rid of the firearm that had been collecting dust for 15 years.
"It was just sitting there. I said, that's another $50 in my pocket to get some gas or something," Willis said.
The turnout was so large that deputies had to restock on gift cards.
Last year, authorities said 750 guns were stolen in Orlando and Orange County.
Anyone turning in a gun will receive a $50 gift card. They do not need identification, and they will not be questioned.
"Once these stolen guns are on the streets, violent criminals, teenagers and even the mentally ill can get their hands on stolen weapons," said Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.
WFTV found out that nearly 200 of the guns stolen last year were taken from people's cars, and more than 80 percent of those were from unlocked cars.
"Yes, we all have the right to bear arms, but we must do so responsibly," said Orlando Police Chief John Mina.
Officials have not said how many of the 750 guns stolen in 2014 were tied to violent crimes, but last year, two law enforcement officers were shot and killed with stolen guns.
In 2009, the sheriff's wife, former Orlando Police Chief Val Demings, had her gun stolen, showing the problem has a wide reach.
"I am certainly sensitive to that issue and that is one of the reasons we are here for this campaign today," said Demings. “We’re not going to give up on making the community safer.”
The buyback runs until 7 p.m. at the Orange Blossom Trail Development Board at 2719 South Orange Blossom Trail.
The drop off location off south Orange Blossom Trail is strategic.
It’s a notorious hot spot for criminal activity and has been the scene of numerous drug-related murders.
“This is no accident that we decided to do it in the OBT area,” Demings said.
Anyone turning in a gun is asked to place it in a plastic bag, and deputies will pick it up from their car.
The event is just one part of Demings' new campaign that will also include Crime Line billboards and a Public Service Announcement reminding gun owners to keep their firearms locked up in a safe place and out of the hands of criminals.