Grizzlies Offering Free Tickets In Exchange For Turned-In Firearms

A noble piece of NBA news this afternoon: The Memphis Grizzlies, who are in no need of increased fan attendance, are offering a promotion to help reduce violence in the city of Memphis. This Saturday, the Grizz will join forces with Bloomfield Baptist church in an effort to collect, and dispose of, unnecessary firearms currently on the streets. For every gun that is turned in—no questions asked and no background checks performed, of course—the “donor” will receive two free tickets to an upcoming preseason game. Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal: “The city of Memphis will trade gas cards and Grizzlies tickets for guns in a ‘judgement-free’ program designed to reduce the number of weapons on the streets. During the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Bloomfield Baptist Church, the city and its partners plan to hand over a $50 Mapco gas card for each gun a person turns in, limited to three guns, or $150 worth of gas cards, per person. Those who surrender guns will also receive two free tickets to a preseason Memphis Grizzlies game. Mapco is footing the bill for the gas cards. Sponsors also include Clear Channel and the Memphis Grizzlies. ‘We’re doing everything we can to get guns off the streets,’ said Memphis Police Department director Toney Armstrong. The guns will be taken on a ‘no questions asked’ basis and will be destroyed. The weapons will not be tested or inspected to determine if they were used in a crime, according to police department spokeswoman Karen Rudolph. ‘This is a judgment-free zone,’ said Armstrong. ‘You can just turn in the gun and simply walk away. We just want the guns.'”