FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information:
Julie Burchett
Burchett.juliekay@gmail.com
314-750-0830

GUNS TO GARDENS GUN RECYCLING EVENT TO TAKE PLACE APRIL 5, 2025

Join the Giddings Lovejoy Presbytery Public Witness and DRAWP Teams, Third Presbyterian Church, and the Moline Acres Police Department to reduce gun violence in St. Louis.

ST. LOUIS, MO, March 3, 2025 – Anyone who would like to anonymously recycle a gun(s) is invited to bring unloaded firearms to the Guns to Gardens event at Third Presbyterian Church, 9990 Lewis and Clark Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63136 between 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 5. Participants should place unloaded guns in the trunk of their vehicle and be ready to drive through the event. No ammunition should be brought to the event and will not be accepted. Only bring guns to be surrendered. A limited number of $50, $100, and $150 gift cards will be available, depending on type of gun turned in.

Guns to Gardens is a national movement that encourages people to safely dispose of unwanted guns by turning them into garden tools. The movement is based on the Bible verse Isaiah 2:4, which says, "Beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks". People can bring their unloaded guns to a Guns to Gardens event, where trained volunteers will remove them for dismantling. The scraps are then sent to a blacksmith to be made into garden tools (or art or jewelry). Guns to Gardens gun recycling helps prevent unintentional shootings, suicides, family gun violence, and shootings related to gun theft.

“We recognize gun violence is a big concern in our world right now,” said Julie Burchett, one of the event coordinators. “Guns to Gardens helps to reduce gun violence and make communities safer. It also helps to prevent guns from falling into the hands of people who may use them to hurt others. It is a practical service as well as a healing process for people and communities traumatized by gun violence. It’s a small effort to remove violence from our community.”

Other partner organizations of the Guns to Gardens program are the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and RAWtools.

For information on the first St. Louis area Guns to Gardens event, click here: https://www.timesnewspapers.com/webster-kirkwoodtimes/guns-to-gardens/article_1a0c98e6-9a98-11ee-8bd6-fb9a84c9a3dc.html

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