HOUSTON — After several participants in Saturday's One Safe Houston gun buyback program reported issues with the gift cards that were handed out, Pct. 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said the problem has been resolved.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis previously said in a statement that they were working with the vendor to resolve a "technical problem."
Ellis' full statement can be read below:
We are hearing reports of problems with the online gift cards issued today at our gun buyback. To all those who are having issues, please know that we share your frustration and we are working with the gift card vendor, Online Rewards, to make this right. They have informed us that this is technical problem that is being fixed, and promised that the issue will be resolved on Monday. Please redeem your gift card at that time. If you continue to have issues, contact our office at Comm_Ellis@cp1.hctx.net.
"We are committed to ensuring that every person who turned in a firearm today gets compensated.”
About the gun buyback program
People turning in guns got gift cards ranging from $50 to $200, depending on the type of weapon and whether it still works.
Law enforcement checks whether the guns are linked to crimes before destroying them.
In the first event, police collected more than 800 firearms and gave out nearly $100,000 in gift cards. More than 1,200 firearms were collected during the last event in July.
Meanwhile, if you don't want to give away your gun for some cash, the Harris County District Attorney's Office is giving away free gun safes for residents. At least 1,000 gun safes have been purchased and will be distributed at various monthly meetings held by the Houston Police Department, according to the DA's office.