NEW ORLEANS — A notable gun buyback event took place this week at a church parking lot in New Orleans, where residents exchanged firearms for video game consoles. This initiative, designed to enhance public safety, comes at a time when Louisiana is easing restrictions on gun ownership.
Leticia Clanton, aged 50, stood in line for most of the morning on Tuesday, eager for her chance to participate. Although she held a permit for her concealed handgun, she was concerned for the safety of her eight young grandchildren who often play in her home. Clanton decided to trade her firearm for a PlayStation 5, valued at approximately $500.
“With all the grandkids and all the violence that they got going on, it’s time to get it up off the street,” she shared. Clanton added that the gaming console would be shared among her grandchildren during their visits.
City police officers accepted and dismantled 32 various firearms, including revolvers, shotguns, and semi-automatics, with no questions asked as long as the weapons were operational. Over the past six months, 94 firearms have been collected in total across three buyback events, all in exchange for gaming devices.
The buybacks were organized by a local nonprofit, Unchained Realities, through its Nola Grown gaming program, which aims to engage young people in the city through video games. This initiative has led to the establishment of two centers that focus on developing skills in competitive gaming, game development, graphic design, and coding, with plans for a third facility underway.
J.D. Carrere, co-director of the gaming program, expressed that the demand for such buyback events has prompted efforts to secure additional funds, largely supported through donations from local businesses.
In response to Louisiana’s relaxing gun ownership laws and stricter penalties for violent crimes, the buybacks are viewed as a proactive step. In 2024, newly-elected Republican Governor Jeff Landry emphasized a tough-on-crime agenda, resulting in reforms that require harsher sentencing for those convicted of violent offenses. Notably, legislation that took effect in August allows individuals aged 18 and over to carry concealed weapons without needing a permit, training, or fingerprinting, which were previously mandatory.
While New Orleans has historically struggled with high homicide rates, city officials have found that murders and non-fatal shootings have significantly declined in the last two years, according to the New Orleans Police Department.
Gun buybacks have been implemented across the United States, but studies, such as one from the National Bureau of Economic Research in 2021, suggest these initiatives have little impact on reducing violent crime. Critics argue that buybacks tend to collect a minor number of firearms and often miss the individuals most inclined to commit crimes. An example includes a 2022 event in New York, where a man utilized 3D printing to claim $21,000 in gift cards through mass-produced firearms.
Community advocates in New Orleans believe that the PlayStation exchange should not be seen merely as a standalone event, but as a component of a larger strategy for community involvement that also promotes awareness and connects families with city-backed gaming programs for youth.
“To simply take a gun away is not enough,” Carrere noted. “What we are doing is replacing it with opportunity.” He emphasized that even if the initiative prevents a single crime, it can be deemed successful. Furthermore, he argued that investing in such programs is likely less costly than incarcerating someone for armed robbery.
“As a community, we all benefit by avoiding another tragedy resulting from gun violence, sparing families from losing loved ones and preventing overburdening the judicial system,” Carrere stated.
