December 4, 2008 'Goods for Guns' takes firearms off the streets Play video

(Ashley Palumbo, NECN: Worcester, MA) - Doctors at UMass Memorial Medical Center are teaming up with the Worcester police department and Wal-Mart for the 7th year of their 'Goods for Guns' program.

Dr. Michael Hirsh started it six years ago, offering gift cards in exchange for unwanted weapons.

"2/3 of the weapons are the real ones that we want to get off the street, the handguns or semi-automatic handguns that are really the most common cause for interpersonal violence."

80,000 dollars in gift cards have been handed out...while 1,500 guns have been taken off the streets.

Dr. Timothy Emhoff says it's worth it.

It costs roughly 20-thousand dollars to care for one gunshot victim.

And if they've saved 4 lives in the last 6 years, the program has more than paid for its self.

"I think this is money very much well spent and anything we can do to reduce the violence and reduce the injury goes a long way to saving healthcare dollars."

Weapons should be unloaded and brought in a bag. If you're unsure how to safely unload or transport a weapon, the police are here to help.

"We always urge those folks to please call us because we'll certainly come to that location and we'll make the weapon safe."

"People looking to trade their guns for gift cards will have 2 chances this month. The first gun buyback is this Saturday at the Department of Public Health. The second will be here at Worcester Police Headquarters on