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After two successful safe surrender events, an expanded group of congregations and nonprofits, in partnership with RAWtools South, is planning a third annual Gun Safe Surrender June 7, 2025, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at The First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak Street.
Prior to the event, we will remember and honor those affected by gun violence at Haywood Street Church, 11am, May 28. Metal from a destroyed firearm will be hammered and forged by participants, and the community will be invited to speak the names of those we remember.
Donations
Donations to the event will help us secure gift cards and all the tools and safety equipment necessary for this important event. All are encouraged to donate to this effort at this link. An acknowledgement message can be sent to anyone you would like to honor with your donation (a mother, father, friend, or someone affected by gun violence).
Volunteers
There are numerous volunteer spots available: Greeters, Shepherds, Firearm Safety Team, Chop Team, Runners, Peacemaking Team, Photographer, Lunch/Food Providers, and the Set-up Crew.
See Robin Wells at (828) 713-2612 if you would like to volunteer.
More Information
Anyone may bring unwanted (and unloaded and working) firearms to be destroyed and transformed into garden tools and art. In gratitude for their generous donation, those donating guns will be celebrated with a gift card to local groceries or home improvement stores: $50 card for long guns (rifles and shotguns), $150 for handguns, and $200 for AR platform firearms after that gun has been destroyed (as supplies last, with a $300 maximum per vehicle).
With over 300 million guns in American homes, many are unwanted for a range of reasons: there may be children or vulnerable adults in the house, owners may no longer be able to safely handle weapons, guns may have been used unintentionally or for harm, there may be a family member with serious illness, or any number of other reasons.
Approximately 43,000 Americans die every year from gun violence. The majority of those deaths are from suicide, followed by homicide, family violence and negligent shootings. Removing an unsecured, unwanted gun from the home can prevent many of these deaths.
Other Details
Individuals may safely dispose of unwanted firearms anonymously.
Trained volunteers will use power tools to make cuts to the gun according to guidelines from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Once these cuts are made it is no longer legally a gun, so there is no transfer of ownership
The public is asked, when bringing their working and unloaded firearm, to leave the UNLOADED gun(s) stored in the trunk of the vehicle or in a locked container.
Trained volunteers will check and clear all firearms.
This is a drive-thru event, and only donors of firearms and registered volunteers will be allowed on the property.
RAWtools South is part of a growing network of blacksmiths who forge dismantled guns into garden tools and art according to the scripture in Micah 4:3: "they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks."
Sponsors
The First Baptist Church of Asheville, Haywood Street Congregation, Asheville Friends Meeting, Circle of Mercy Congregation, Land of the Sky UCC, Deep Time, Hood Huggers International, First Congregational UCC, Beloved Asheville, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and House of Mercy.
Make your safe gun surrender donations here.
For more information, contact Stan Wilson, [email protected]