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“Guns to Garden Tools” Safe Surrender Community Event 

Eastmorland Community Center, 3565 Tulane Avenue 

Saturday, September 28 / 9am - Noon

Gun violence affects all communities in our country and is an escalating issue in our times. The rate of gun deaths in Wisconsin increased 28% from 2009 to 2018, compared to an 18% increase over this same time period nationwide. Often people have an unwanted gun in their home but do not have a way to safely dispose of it.

Some owners do not want to sell their guns, because they are afraid it may be used to harm others.  Other owners are concerned that a child or family member may try to harm themselves, if it is left in their home.

“Guns to Garden Tools” – a program started by Raw Tools, an organization that offers opportunities to help communities move away from violence  – provides a safe way for folks to get unwanted firearms out of their homes. Gift cards are given to those surrendering guns, in exchange for the weapon.  Surrendered guns are then converted into garden tools, by volunteers at the event, and offered to local gardening groups.  This act of transforming weapons into instruments for growth also offers the community a way to learn together and support those impacted by gun violence. 

A specific process to ensure safety in handling any guns will be followed. People surrendering weapons drive through a specific area with guns in the trunks of their cars. The driver remains in their vehicle as a volunteer, trained to handle guns and check for any ammunition, removes the gun from the trunk of the car.  Guns need to be unloaded prior to bringing them for surrender.  Ammunition will not be accepted or disposed of at the event.

Jeff Wild, the local coordinator of Guns to Garden Tools, along with skilled volunteers will use chop saws and a forge to dismantle and transform surrendered guns on site. Volunteers from local Maker’s Spaces will be invited to learn how to dismantle and reshape the firearms with Jeff instructing.  This event will also focus on neighborhood education about the gardens that are a part of our neighborhood with tours and information about local gardening sites and groups.

Learn more about Raw Tools and “Guns to Garden Tools” here: https://rawtools.org/swords-to-plowshares/ 

This event is being funded, in part, through a grant from the Willy Street Co-op Community Reinvestment Fund.