The Gun Violence Prevention Heart of Utah, in partnership with the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, is asking individuals to donate undesirable weapons at an occasion on June 11, 2022. As a part of Gun Violence Consciousness Prevention month, the native teams will dismantle the weapons on-site and ship them to Uncooked Instruments in Colorado to be made right into a gardening software. Nancy Halden
One Utah group is hoping to forestall gun violence by turning donated weapons right into a software with a gentler function: gardening.
The Gun Violence Prevention Heart of Utah, in partnership with the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, is asking individuals to donate undesirable weapons at an occasion on June 11. As a part of Gun Violence Consciousness Prevention month, the native teams will dismantle the weapons on-site and ship them to Uncooked Instruments in Colorado to be made right into a gardening software.
Nancy Halden, who has been directing this occasion in Utah since 2019, says that it primarily caters to people who've been victims of gun violence, however anybody is welcome.
"We had our first occasion in 2019, however have not had one the previous two years attributable to COVID, however in the course of the 2019 occasion, we had quite a lot of survivors of gun violence come — many had been in a position to take a whack on the gun whereas it was on the forge being overwhelmed into a great tool," Halden mentioned. "It was a really shifting occasion. Everybody I talked to was very moved and it was particularly cathartic to the individuals who misplaced somebody to gun violence."
Halden, who has been working for gun violence prevention for the previous decade, says that she typically works alongside victims of gun violence — even some who've been in mass taking pictures conditions.
"It is attention-grabbing that the mass taking pictures survivors I've talked to have mentioned that it is throughout in a minute," Halden mentioned. "A few them had been gun house owners earlier than the shootings and mentioned, 'You assume you are going to defend your self. It occurs so quick.' Individuals have the concept weapons make them really feel safer. They are not safer with that gun."
Halden mentioned that this 12 months's occasion might be one among 11 occasions of its variety nationwide, and the hope is to get individuals who have weapons of their properties which are not in use, to consider not simply surrendering them, however repurposing them into one thing helpful.
"Our objective was by no means numbers; our objective was to get individuals to consider these weapons which are hanging round their home which are not getting used," Halden mentioned.
"They grow to be a legal responsibility for the household. In the event that they get stolen, they grow to be a legal responsibility for our law enforcement officials in the event that they're on the road. A gun that's not getting used is a legal responsibility. We would like individuals to start out excited about this."
This 12 months's occasion might be completed by way of drive-thru, and anybody who needs to show of their weapons is requested to place all unloaded weapons into the trunk or again of their truck. Anybody who turns in a gun will be capable of obtain a gardening software at a later date.
And whereas the occasion is primarily for gun house owners, Halden mentioned that it's open to the general public, and he or she encourages individuals to cease by to see the gun dismantling course of.
"We are attempting to enchantment to individuals to assist them give it some thought differently — possibly, hand over the gun," she mentioned.
The occasion might be held Saturday, June 11, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Neighborhood of Grace Presbyterian Church on 2015 E. Newcastle Drive, in Sandy. Extra data might be discovered by going to the Gun Violence Prevention Heart Utah Fb Web page.