King County Sheriff’s Office Gift Cards for Guns Rules, Regulations, and Definitions

(October 21, 2023)

These rules, regulations, and definitions are subject to change prior to the start of the event.

PURPOSE

The purposes of this public safety event are:

1. To reduce the number of guns in circulation, which could lead to a reduction in accidents, injuries, and deaths caused by guns.

2. To offer residents a safe, consistent option for returning unwanted firearms and ammunition, with the ultimate goal of promoting public health and safety.

3. To address the increase in gun violence in King County by implementing a voluntary firearm and ammunition return program that can be easily accessed by residents.

SITUATION

For people who no longer want guns, or the risks associated with having them, submitting them for destruction is a viable alternative to selling them.

The King County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a “Gift Cards for Guns” trade-in event:

• Saturday, October 21st from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

• Shoreline Community College: 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline, WA, 98133

While this is intended to increase safety in and around King County, because firearms in the wrong hands know no borders, anyone with a firearm or ammunition may turn it in at this event.

Participation is voluntary. It is also anonymous. For this public safety event, the government’s interest in removing unwanted guns from circulation, preventing local tragedies, and preventing gun crime outweighs our normal interests associated with gun tracking. Therefore, in order to encourage inclusive participation among all households, NO identification is shown by participants at this event.

Law enforcement agencies and officers acting in the agency’s official capacity are exempt from Washington’s statutory background check rule when transferring firearms. RCW 9.41.113(4)(e):

(4) This section does not apply to: (e) Any law enforcement or corrections agency and, to the extent theperson is acting within the course and scope of his or her employment or official duties, any law enforcement or corrections officer, …;

If gift cards run out before the event concludes at 2:00 p.m., the event will remain open until 2:00 for anyone who wants to turn in guns without receiving gift cards. No compensation will be given after gift cards run out. No I.O.U., no rain check, etc.2

WHAT MAY BE TRADED or TURNED IN

Gift cards will be given for firearms only.

KCSO may accept toy guns, B-B/pellet guns, objects that look like firearms, ammunition, magazines, and other ammunition-feeding devices, but there is no compensation for such.

The King County Sheriff’s Office is under no obligation to collect an item presented for trade. The on-site supervisor has discretion and the final say regarding whether KCSO collects an item.

TRADE VALUES

Gift cards will be dispersed for firearms based on these rates:

• ZERO for toy guns, B-B/pellet guns, homemade firearms, non-firing objects that look like firearms, ammunition, magazines and other ammunition-feeding devices, and firearm accessories.

• $25 for antique firearms, junk guns, firearms that appear inoperable, receivers/frames only, and bump-fire stocks.

• $50 for muzzle-loading firearms manufactured after the U.S. entered WWII (less than 82 years old).

• $100 for rifles. (.22LR weapons that look like AR-15s or AK-47s are traded as rifles, not as AR-15s or AK-47s)

• $100 for shotguns.

• $100 for revolvers.

• $200 for pistols.

• $300 for AR-15s, AK-47s, and machine guns.

There is NO additional compensation for scopes, optical sights, lights, or other accessories attached to a weapon.

For purposes of this trade, the definitions listed below apply. The on-site police supervisor has the final say in determining how and whether other items match the definitions for this event, including whether an item is a “firearm.”

Because participation is voluntary, if a participant does not agree with the supervisor’s decision the participant need not turn in the item.

A firearm transfer occurs when:

1. A police officer has physical possession of the weapon; and

2. The presenter agrees to relinquish the firearm for the compensation offered.

No firearm transfer occurs until and unless both 1 and 2 above are satisfied.

If the presenter does not agree to the amount of compensation offered by KCSO, the deputy will return the weapon to the vehicle’s trunk – no transfer occurred. After a firearm is transferred to the Sheriff’s Office, the weapon will not be returned to the presenter.3

LOGISTICS

At no time will participants touch firearms at the trade site.

Before arriving at the Event Location (KCSO Southwest Precinct), participants will leave all firearms unloaded and secured in the trunks of their cars, or in a locked area of a truck bed.

Deputies will ask the driver for permission to open the trunk or locked container and remove firearms. If the driver gives consent, a deputy will open the trunk/container and retrieve the items being presented.

After examining the item, the deputy will declare the item’s trade value based on the above rates. If the presenter agrees to the compensation amount, the Sheriff’s Office assumes possession of the item and a transfer occurs.

A recorder will document the weapon’s identifying features and record the gift card value being given for that weapon. That value of card(s) will be given to the person who presented the weapon.

Items not worthy of a gift card (e.g., toy guns, pellet guns, ammunition) will be recorded on the log with a zero compensation note.

DEFINITIONS

These definitions apply for this event only. The on-site police supervisor has the final say on whether the items offered for trade fall within these definitions, and whether an item is a firearm.

"Antique firearm" is a firearm manufactured before the United States entered WWII in 1941 (82 years or older).

“AK-47” is any semi-automatic variation of Mikhail Kalashnikov’s rifle firing 7.62x39mm, 5.56x45mm, or .223 Rem. ammunition. (“AK-47” does not include .22LR weapons.) One common variation is shown in this photograph:

 

“AR-15” is a shoulder-fired weapon firing 5.56x45mm, .223 Rem., or 7.62.39mm ammunition, based on Eugene Stoner’s AR-15 / M-16 design and its progeny. (“AR-15” does not include .22LR weapons.) One common AR-15 variation is shown in this photograph:

 

"Firearm" means a weapon or device from which a projectile or projectiles may be fired by an explosive such as gunpowder. "Firearm" does not include a flare gun or other pyrotechnic visual distress signaling device, or a powder-actuated tool or other device designed solely to be used for construction purposes (e.g. a nail gun).

“Ghost gun” is a privately made firearm, usually produced from a parts kit by someone other than a licensed firearm manufacturer. A ghost gun fully functions as a commercially available firearm of a similar type or model and, therefore, gets the same trade value as a commercially available firearm of the same type. Ghost guns normally have no serial number embedded at the time of production. (Some variations include 3D printed guns and Polymer 80s.)

"Gun" has the same meaning as firearm.

“Handgun” is a firearm designed to be fired with one or both hands, and is either a pistol or revolver.

“Homemade firearms” are not produced by a licensed firearm manufacturer. They are contrived, not from commercial parts kits. They may discharge a firearm cartridge but are not as functional as a commercially available firearm or a ghost gun. Homemade guns normally have no serial number embedded at the time of production.

“Junk guns” were commercially manufactured and will discharge a firearm cartridge, but doing so may destroy the item or injure the shooter. These guns became unsafe due to abuse and neglect over time.

"Machine gun" is any firearm designed or altered to fire more than one round of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger. This includes fully automatic weapons and any that fire 2 or 3-round bursts. It includes submachine guns, automatic rifles, and pistols.

“Muzzle-loading firearms” are any matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system. This includes muzzle-loading rifles, shotgun, or handguns that are not antiques. A modern muzzle-loading rifle is shown in this photograph:

 

 “Non-functioning firearm” is a commercially manufactured firearm or ghost gun that does not appear to work due to corrosion, rust, faulty after-market work, lack of maintenance, or because it is missing functional parts.

“Pistol" is a semi-automatic, magazine-fed handgun, designed to be held and fired by one or both hands, with a barrel less than 16 inches.

“Revolver” is a handgun with a cylinder that contains the cartridges in several (6-8) individual chambers, rather than a magazine, and has a barrel less than 16 inches. With each pull of the trigger or cocking of the hammer, the cylinder rotates to bring the next chamber (and cartridge) in line with the barrel.

"Rifle" means a shoulder-fired firearm using the energy of the explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire a single projectile through a rifled bore for each pull of the trigger. For this event, rifle and carbine are synonymous.

“Semi-automatic” firearms fire a single cartridge with each pull of the trigger. Semi-autos use part of the cartridge’s discharge energy to cycle the weapon’s action, extract and eject the empty case, and load another cartridge into the chamber.

"Shotgun" means a shoulder-fired firearm with a bore of .410” or larger and designed to fire a shotgun shell, usually through a smooth bore. A shotgun with a cut-off stock that appears converted into a handgun is treated as a shotgun for this event.