Nearly 500 guns were collected Saturday during a Ceasefire Oregon gun turn-in event in the Centennial neighborhood.
Ceasefire Oregon Education Foundation officials said the group collected 485 guns, including two semi-automatic assault rifles. The guns were turned in by the public in exchange for gift cards from either Safeway or Fred Meyer stores.
Since 1994, the group has collected a total of 7,787 guns. No gun turn-in event was held in 2009.
The highest number turned in was 1,069 in 1998. The lowest was 95 in 2005. Last year, 223 guns were turned in.
Saturdays event was held at the Lynwood Friends Church, 835 S.E. 162nd Ave. In addition to Ceasefire Oregons Education Foundation, the event was sponsored by the Portland Police Bureau, Mayor Charlie Hales, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, Multnomah County and the Rosewood Initiative.
Across the street from the event, several people protested the gun turn-in with signs saying they would buy the weapons for cash to keep them from being destroyed.
