HCSO: More than 1,000 unwanted guns turned in for cash

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Hillsborough County deputies unloaded more than a thousand guns Saturday for their first Gun Swap event since 2013. 

There was no ID needed, and there were no questions asked. HCSO said 1,183 unwanted firearms, 6 of which were stolen guns, were turned over at the event.

"Last time we broke a national record I think it was 2,541 guns so I think that shows the climate's right. People have that gun maybe they inherited it or for whatever reason they don't want it," said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. 

While residents waited in their cars, deputies accepted the firearms in exchange for $50 cash and a pair of tickets to see the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. 

The pair of incentives was reason enough for Evelyna Gaskins to wake up early and hand over a gun that she's been trying to get rid of for years. 

"My name is on it," she said. "If somebody else gets it and uses it then (sic) it's going to come back to me so this way I'm done with it."

The gun swap was supposed to open up at 8:00 a.m., but residents started lining up so early that deputies decided to start swapping 20 minutes early. 

Sheriff Chronister explained that the guns turned over to the sheriff's office on Saturday will be destroyed after deputies check to see if they're stolen, or if they were connected to any crimes.

"Last one we did we had 15 that were stolen. So we'll return those back to the owner," he added. "Other than that, no questions asked, they will be destroyed."