Guns to Gardens Gun Decommissioning

Guns to Gardens: A Safe and Responsible Way for our community to Dispose of Unwanted Firearms
Saturday, March 15 | 10 AM – 12 PM | Antioch Church Parking Lot | 566 NE Clay Avenue

Antioch Church is offering a unique and essential community service for seniors and families looking for a safe, responsible way to dispose of unwanted firearms. The Guns to Gardens firearm safe surrender event provides an opportunity to remove firearms from homes where they may no longer be wanted or safely stored, reducing potential risks of accidents and harm.

We want to offer a service that gives peace of mind to those who no longer wish to have firearms in their homes but aren’t sure what to do with them.  Several widows have attended past events, often bringing in firearms that have been sitting in a closet—some unknowingly still loaded. Many arrive feeling embarrassed, knowing they should address the issue but unsure how. Yet time and time again, they leave with a profound sense of relief and gratitude, thankful for a safe, judgment-free way to responsibly dispose of these firearms.

The event is part of the national Guns to Gardens initiative, which aims to reduce gun-related injuries and deaths by providing a safe method for firearm disposal. Unwanted firearms will be dismantled on-site by trained volunteers using specialized tools, ensuring they can never be used again. The dismantled parts will then be transformed into garden tools, symbolizing the restoration of something that takes life into something that cultivates life. With an estimated 400 million firearms in American homes, many are no longer wanted due to changes in family dynamics, health concerns, or safety reasons. Guns to Gardens ensures that these firearms are not resold or circulated but instead permanently removed from the community.

Why This Event Matters for Seniors and Families:

• Safe Disposal – Seniors who no longer feel comfortable handling firearms can ensure their safe removal without risk.
• Preventing Accidents – Firearms stored in homes, especially those forgotten or improperly secured, can pose significant risks to grandchildren, caregivers, and visitors.
• Emotional and Practical Relief – Inherited firearms or guns from past hunting or sport shooting days may no longer serve a purpose, leaving many unsure of how to dispose of them responsibly.
• A Legacy of Peace – Rather than risk firearms falling into the wrong hands, this event allows community members to contribute to a movement that transforms guns into tools that cultivate life.

How to Participate:
For the March 15th drive-through event, participants should place unloaded firearms in the trunk, rear, or back seat of their vehicle. Trained personnel will safely remove the firearms and transport them to the dismantling station. Following guidelines from the Bureau of Alcohol, the guns will be decommissioned. Once this process is complete, the guns are no longer legally firearms. Owners can choose to donate the parts to be repurposed into garden tools.

While this is not a traditional gun buyback program, gift cards will be distributed as a token of appreciation for those who participate. Please note that all firearms should be unloaded, and ammunition will not be accepted.

For more information, email antioch.gunstogardens@gmail.com.

Join us in making our community safer—one decommissioned firearm at a time.