Florida Residents donated 167 assault rifles and handguns to Miami police as part of a buyback initiative that sends firearms to Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russia.
The Guns 4 Ukraine program allowed residents to dump their guns with the police on Saturday, no questions asked.
Officials gave residents $50 for handguns, $100 for shotguns, and $150 for assault rifles such as the AK-47 or AR-15.
City Commissioner Ken Russell said the initiative is an “unprecedented effort” to help Ukrainians “in times of need” and get guns off the streets of Miami.
However, critics claim the weapons are too primitive to help Ukraine withstand Vladimir Putin’s onslaught on their nation and that getting the weapons overseas is a truly complex process.
The city has yet to sign an agreement with a licensed arms exporter, but officials hope to be able to ship the arms to Ukraine in the next few weeks.
Florida residents donated 167 assault rifles and handguns to Miami police on Saturday as part of a buyback initiative that sends firearms to Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russia
The Guns 4 Ukraine program allowed residents to turn in their guns to the police on Saturday, no questions asked.
City officials say the initiative was an “unprecedented effort” to help Ukrainians “in their time of need” to get guns off the streets of Miami. Officials are seen sorting the donated guns on Tuesday
However, critics claim the weapons are too primitive to help Ukraine withstand Vladimir Putin’s onslaught on their nation and that getting the weapons overseas is a truly complex process. The guns are pictured during a news conference on Tuesday
The Miami government plans to send the guns to a police department in Irpin, Ukraine, a Kyiv suburb, where officers have reported a shortage of handguns and rifles.
“A lot of people were skeptical that a city would be able to do that, but we found a way,” Russell said The Miami Herald. “We are here to help them in their need and they have shown their courage.”
However, cynics remain skeptical of the plan, noting that Florida law requires that any gun given to a state official must be turned over to the local sheriff.
The sheriff can loan the gun to other departments, destroy it, or sell it for a state fund. The Washington Post reported. Normally they are not allowed to send weapons abroad.
In fact, international arms trade regulations require anyone wishing to export guns, ammunition, or defense-related items to obtain a license from the federal government.
Russell said the US State Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives approved the city’s plan to ship the guns to Irpin.
The City will also provide Irpin Police with helmets and bulletproof vests.
Additionally, on Tuesday, Miami announced Irpin as one of its sister cities, which Russell said allows both city governments to coordinate the donation.
Officials gave residents $50 for handguns, $100 for shotguns, and $150 for assault rifles such as the AK-47 or AR-15. An officer is pictured with a donated gun on Saturday
Citizens lined up in their cars and on motorcycles on Saturday to turn over the unwanted weapons to the police, who then inspected them
Officials had to confirm that the guns were not stolen or part of an ongoing criminal case. Police officers are pictured inspecting the guns on Saturday
The Miami government plans to send the guns to a police department in Irpin, Ukraine, a Kyiv suburb, where officers have reported a shortage of handguns and rifles. Officers are pictured sorting through guns at Saturday’s event
Critics fear the weapons (pictured Tuesday) will not be “sophisticated” enough to help in the fight against Russia
Photos from Saturday’s event show officers collecting the guns in front of Miami City Hall.
Citizens lined up in their cars and on motorcycles to turn over the unwanted weapons to the police, who then inspected them. Officers had to confirm that the guns were not stolen or part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
“We really didn’t know what to expect,” Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales said in a video posted to Facebook after the event. “But we came here, the community came out and showed us great support.”
“A lot of people don’t understand why anyone would want to give up their guns,” Russell explained in the video. “These are people who had guns in their house that they no longer wanted.”
“We don’t ask questions, but we’re happy to take them out of their homes because that way it’s a weapon that might not fall into the hands of anyone, or even a child, and be misused.”
Morales added, “How many lives were saved today by this event we will never know.”
The city says Ukrainian officials have asked for the shipment to be shipped as soon as possible, but critics fear the weapons will not be “sophisticated” enough to help in the fight against Russia.
Skeptics argue that the weapons the US military is providing to Ukraine include advanced medium-range missile systems, drones and thousands of anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons. They think the weapons collected in Miami “are probably not what Ukrainian officials say they need.”
Meanwhile, Miami city leaders hope other local police departments will be inspired by their efforts and offer similar buyback programs of their own.
Ukrainian officials have asked for the shipment to be sent as soon as possible. Police are pictured collecting the guns on Saturday
The City will also provide Irpin Police with helmets and bulletproof vests. An official is seen at the buyback event on Saturday
Miami city leaders hope other local police departments will be inspired by their efforts and offer similar buyback programs of their own. An officer and a civilian are pictured at Saturday’s event
A Miami official sorts some of the guns from the Guns 4 Ukraine project at Miami City Hall on Tuesday.
