Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis will host a July 30 Gun Buyback event in partnership with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. The details will be announced at a news conference on Monday, July 18.

The buyback event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 30 at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, 3826 Wheeler Ave.

“We all deserve to feel safe in our homes, neighborhoods and public spaces,” Commissioner Ellis said. “And we can’t feel safe when the guns outnumber people and they are easier to get than childcare, health care, college education and a decent job. We can’t change those systems overnight, but we can take action by removing guns from the street.”

With no questions asked, residents will be able to receive a $50 gift card for every nonfunctioning gun, $100 for a rifle, $150 for a handgun and $200 for an assault rifle. All firearms must be unloaded and in the vehicle’s trunk.

This program is part of a broader strategy recently implemented by Harris County to get at the root causes of crime. The County’s Violence Interruption Program works with trusted and trained community messengers to de-escalate local conflicts, provide pathways out of gangs, and provide resources and support in terms of jobs, substance use, health and education.

The County’s Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) sends trained first responders to assist people struggling with issues related to mental health, substance use, or homelessness so they can receive help they need. This also eases the burden on law enforcement by allowing them to focus on serious violent crimes.

“We’re rolling up our sleeves and getting to work on smart and meaningful programs to address crime,” Commissioner Ellis said. ”As we’ve seen time and time again, we can pass lots of great policy, but at the end of the day, we must get weapons off the streets to keep our community safe. Help us do that. Be a part of the solution.”