Chicago buys back thousands of guns

CHICAGO, April 30 (UPI) -- Chicago police have collected more than 3,000 guns in a buyback initiative called "Don't Kill a Dream, Save a Life."

Residents who turned in firearms at 23 churches received a $100 debit card, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The weapons included .38-caliber handguns, hunting rifles, sawed-off shotguns and even a TEC-9 semiautomatic weapon.

The last large-scale Chicago gun collection took place in 1994 when some 1,200 firearms were exchanged for gift certificates.

Officials said this weekend's collection was successful due to the participation of local churches and heightened community awareness following the shooting of two young girls in the city's Englewood community last month.