MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Guns to Gardens Wisconsin provides a space for people to repurpose their firearms.
The organization has partnered with local churches to further its mission.
Using the scripture of “Turning swords into plowshares,” Memorial United Church of Christ is turning the unwanted weapons into gardening tools.
“It’s a faith-based initiative to offer a safe space people who have firearms at home they no longer want or use to have a safe place to bring them, have the item dismantled and then a local blacksmith takes the metal and creates a garden tool,” Pastor Kris Gorton said.
Memorial United will be hosting a drive-thru event this Saturday for people to discard any unwanted guns they have in a safe manner.
“Sometimes it’s because they’ve inherited guns, and they are not interested in hunting or using them,” Terry Hoffman said.
The church takes all types of guns, but the guns must be unloaded prior to dropping off.
When the guns are dropped off, a blacksmith is on-site and begins breaking down the weapon.
“We have people who have been trained, and gone through a program to prepare for this,” Gorton said. “There will be a site for people to double-check for people who are firearm trained to make sure that the guns are unloaded, and there will be another site where the guns are dismantled right in front of the person, so they can see they are destroyed and won’t be used again.”
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 11 at Memorial United Church of Christ.
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