Gift Cards for Guns

media release: The Dane County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the City of Madison Police Department, will hold a Gift Cards for Guns event on Saturday, August 13 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Alliant Energy Center. If funds are expended prior to 2:00 pm, the event may close early. 

“Too often, firearms can get into the wrong hands. The Sheriff’s Office is providing this opportunity for citizens to safely turn in unwanted firearms and possibly prevent a tragedy,” said Sheriff Kalvin Barrett. “I would like to thank County Executive Joe Parisi and County Board Supervisors April Kigeya and Alex Joers for their support on this initiative”.

Firearms are the most common method used in suicides. According to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, suicides comprised the majority of gun deaths in 2019 at a rate of 71 percent. They site a total of 604 gun deaths in Wisconsin in 2019, with 49 of those being children and teens. 

Guns can be turned over anonymously, no questions asked!

Participant Rules:

• Firearms must be transported unloaded, and inside trunk/cargo area of your vehicle.
• Firearms should be either wrapped, cased or boxed
• Magazines and ammunition must be in separate area of the vehicle (ie: back seat).

• Firearms must be functional. We will dispose of broken, non-functional firearms, however giftcards will only be provided for firearms which are in working condition.
• You must remain in your vehicle while at the Alliant Energy Center. 
• Please do not bring children or pets to the event. 

Funds are limited.  We reserve the right to limit the number of cards distributed per person.

Depending on the type of gun surrendered, participants will receive a gift card valued between $50.00 to $250.00 in exchange for each gun surrendered, limit up to 4 guns per person. 

Gift cards for ghost guns are in limited supply.  As such there will be a limit of one ghost gun per person.  Must be fully functional. 

All firearms will be retrieved from your vehicle by law enforcement with a no-questions-asked policy. 

No ID required

Gift card funding:

• Revolvers - $50
• Semi -auto Handguns-$100
• Rifles/shotguns - $100
• Ghost Guns- $200  (limit one per person and must be fully functional)
• Assault Style Rifles - $250 

*We will accept BB guns, pellet guns or facsimile firearms for disposal as well.   $10-$25 cards available

Event is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.,   If funds are expended prior to 2:00 p.m., the event may close early. 

Decisions on gift card values for firearms are determined upon inspection and availability.  

Please check out our Event FAQ's  HERE

***FAQ's are updated regularly as we receive new questions.   Final FAQ's will be posted by 5:00 p.m. on August 12. 

Details on the event can be found at https://danesheriff.com/Services/Gift-Cards-for-Guns

Anyone interested in donating to the program can send an email to Giftcardsforguns@danesheriff.com