Ceasefire gun buyback: Cash for guns to get weapons off the streets

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It was kind of up in the air, how the community would respond to this gun buy back. For four hours at Tabernacle Community Baptist Church, you could turn in a gun for cash.

There was really no telling how many people were going to show up, how many guns would be turned in, or what kind.

After all, it's been years since something like this has happened in Milwaukee.

"Yeah it was a good turnout and we are thankful of the response of this community for supporting this effort," said John McVickers, Christ of King Baptist Church.

The line of cars went around the block with police directing traffic.

"The idea came from the coalition of pastors who see the need because it is our people who are struggling, and suffering from this, from this bad disease we have, which is gun violence," said Robert Wilson, St. John's United.

There is no telling how many of these guns could have ended up in the wrong hands, but now, they are in Thomas Johnson's hands.

"Serial number, model number, our tag number... Yea  that's fully automatic, these are what they are mainly looking for, right here," said Johnson.

He's the guy cataloging each fire arm, one at a time. He says a Chinese made MAC 90, one of four assault rifles, has been turned in.

Johnson still has to tag the handguns and he says it doesn't really matter what kind of shape they're in.

"You think when a guy comes up and sticks a gun into your back and says 'give me all your money' are you going to ask him what kind it is?" said Johnson.

What does matter is that 353 guns are off of the streets; 234 handguns, 115 rifles, and four assault weapons.

People received between $50-$200 dollars depending on what kind of gun they turned in. The money to pay out was donated.