L.A. gun buyback

Thousands of people exchanged their guns for gift cards Wednesday at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. Rifles, shotguns, handguns as well as assault weapons were sold to the Los Angeles Police Department in an annual event that was moved up in the wake of the recent school shooting in Connecticut. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Dec. 26, 2012 3:20 PM PT

Numerous guns were collected Wednesday in L.A.’s gun buyback program. People waited hours to exchange firearms for supermarket gift cards. Full story

Police receive guns in the buyback. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

An officer inspects a weapon turned in during the gun buyback. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

LAPD reserve officer Joe Buscaino, who is also a Los Angeles city council member, holds an assault weapon that was turned in. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

About 8,000 guns have been surrendered since the program was initiated in 2009. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

A bin filled with pistols at the buyback. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Police took in rifles, shotguns, handguns as well as assault weapons. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa looks at a trash can full of assault weapons while LAPD Chief Charlie Beck holds an assault weapon, one of several turned in, during a news conference. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

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L.A. gun buyback

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