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10th Annual Kicks
for Guns Event Nets Over 440 Firearms
The Orlando Police Department along with the Orange and Osceola County Sheriff’s
Offices, partnered with Real Radio 104.1 Monsters, 102 Jamz, and Rumba 100.3 to
take more than 440 guns off of the streets of our community with the 10th annual
Kicks for Guns event.
On Thursday, August 14, 2008, each agency teamed with a radio station at a
drop-off site. At the Citrus Bowl, the Orlando Police Department and Real Radio
104.1 collected 118 guns. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and 102 Jamz
collected 149 firearms at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, and the Osceola
County Sheriff’s Office with Rumba 100.3 collected 173 guns at the Primera
Iglesia Church on Boggy Creek Road in Kissimmee.
Kicks for Guns is a completely anonymous program that allows area residents to
trade an unloaded firearm for a pair of new sneakers or a $50 gift card. It
began 10 years ago when Russ Rollins of the Real Radio 104.1 Monsters noticed an
increasing trend of teens resorting to violence to steal sneakers from one
another.
Since its inception, ten years ago, the program has seen many changes. Growing
annually, this was the first year that Kicks for Guns had three drop-off
locations and three participating agencies. It was also the first year that a
participating agency offered gas cards in exchange for unwanted firearms.
Originally guns were traded only for new shoes at a single location. Last week,
individuals surrendering firearms were able to choose between new shoes or a
variety of gift cards.
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