Gun buyback Saturday in Philadelphia

Philadelphia law enforcement officials will collect guns — and offer a bounty for them– this weekend.

The goal of a gun buyback program is to give people an opportunity, “no questions asked,” to turn in unused firearms. The incentive this time is a $100 grocery store gift certificate.

Councilman Curtis Jones, D-4th, says there are too many crimes committed with guns in Philadelphia.

“If you follow the path of a gun, it started at a hunter’s home and the hunter passed away, and the surviving heir didn’t know what to do with the gun and it falls into the hands of a perpetrator of a crime,” Jones said, describing a typical arc.

Jeffrey Brown, president and CEO of Brown’s Super ShopRite Stores, is supplying the the gift certificates as part of a promotion for a new supermarket he’s opening at the site of the old Tastykake factory in Nicetown a Fox Street and Hunting Park Avenue.

“We thought to ourselves, how do we celebrate the opening of this miracle in a neighborhood that needs it?” he said Wednesday. “How do we make the biggest difference in this neighborhood? And we felt our money would be best spent by taking guns off the street.”

The event will be held Saturday at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, 21st Street and Lehigh Avenue, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.