New Orleans residents are trading firearms for PlayStations in a city-backed effort to enhance safety amid relaxed gun laws
New Orleans: This week, a church parking lot in New Orleans was buzzing with activity. Residents lined up to swap their guns for video game consoles. It’s all part of a city-supported initiative aimed at improving public safety, especially as Louisiana eases its gun ownership laws.
Leticia Clanton, a 50-year-old grandmother, was among those waiting. She had a concealed carry permit for a handgun she’d owned for years. But with eight grandkids running around, she decided it was time to trade her gun for a PlayStation 5, valued at about $500.
“With all the grandkids and the violence out there, it’s time to get it off the street,” she said. And the PlayStation? “It’ll be for all of them to share when they visit.”
In just two hours, police collected 32 guns, including revolvers and shotguns, all traded in without any questions as long as they were functional. Over the last six months, the city has gathered 94 guns through three buyback events, all in exchange for gaming devices.
A local nonprofit, Unchained Realities, organized these exchanges as part of its Nola Grown gaming program. This initiative aims to engage local youth with gaming, offering them skills and pathways into the gaming world, whether as players or through game development.
J.D. Carrere, co-director of the program, mentioned that the buybacks were a response to Louisiana’s relaxed gun laws and tougher penalties for violent crimes. He’s been working hard to raise funds for these events, mainly through donations from local businesses.
Recently, Louisiana has loosened its gun ownership restrictions. New laws allow most people over 18 to carry concealed weapons without permits or training, which has raised concerns among community leaders.
New Orleans has had a tough history with violent crime, but recent statistics show a drop in murders and shootings. Still, the effectiveness of gun buybacks is debated. Critics argue they don’t significantly reduce crime and often miss the people most likely to commit it.
Community leaders believe that these PlayStation swaps are part of a larger strategy to engage families and raise awareness about city-supported gaming programs. “Just taking a gun away isn’t enough,” Carrere said. “We need to replace it with opportunities.”
He feels that if even one person is deterred from using a gun to commit a crime, the initiative is a success. Plus, he points out that giving out PlayStations is likely cheaper than dealing with the consequences of crime.
“We all win because we avoid another tragedy,” Carrere added. “It’s about keeping families safe and reducing the strain on our system.”
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Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on
