Hosting a Guns to Gardens KC Disposal Event

Who Can Host?
A Safe & Anonymous Disposal Event can be hosted by:

  • Religious congregations

  • Community organizations

  • Civic groups

  • Other organizations with access to appropriate facilities

While houses of worship are often ideal hosts because they can provide indoor gathering space, restrooms, hospitality, and volunteer coordination areas, these events are not limited to religious organizations. Any group committed to community safety and harm reduction may be well suited to host.

What Is the Event?
A Guns to Gardens KC event is a one-day community safety initiative that provides a safe and anonymous way for individuals to dispose of their unsafe, unusable, or unwanted firearms. This is not a firearm buyback or resale program. No firearms are redistributed. All firearms are permanently destroyed according to federal ATF guidelines and later repurposed into garden tools or artwork. The public portion of the event typically lasts about two hours and takes place entirely outdoors in a parking lot.

What Does the Host Organization Provide?
Host organizations are asked to provide:

  • A parking lot large enough to safely establish event stations and traffic flow

  • Access to a building with electricity and restrooms

  • Approximately 20 volunteers

  • Some financial support to help offset event expenses

The host organization also works alongside Guns to Gardens KC to coordinate logistics and help ensure the event runs safely and smoothly.

When Does the Event Take Place?
Events are single-day efforts that typically require volunteers to be available from approximately 8:00am to 5:00pm.All volunteers are required to participate in same-day training before the event begins. The day includes:

  • Volunteer check-in

  • Event Setup

  • Safety training & walk-through

  • Lunch

  • The public disposal event

  • Breakdown and cleanup

How Does the Process Work?
Through media and advertising well before the event, participants are instructed ahead of time to:

  • Arrive with firearms unloaded

  • Keep firearms secured in the trunk or back seat of their vehicle

  • Remain inside their vehicle during the process

  • Trained members of the Guns to Gardens KC Firearm Safety Team approach the vehicle, confirm the firearm is unloaded, and safely remove it. Firearms are never brought into any building and remain outdoors for the duration of the event.

How Are Firearms Destroyed?
As part of the volunteer sign-up process, individuals may choose to serve on the Firearm Safety Team. Those volunteers receive hands-on training from Guns to Gardens KC Firearm Safety Officers and learn the procedures and safety protocols involved in safely transporting, handling, dismantling, and permanently destroying surrendered firearms. If ammunition is surrendered, it is handled and disposed of according to established safety protocols.

What can Volunteers do?
Events operate with clearly defined volunteer roles, that could include:

  • Greeters and traffic guides

  • Administrative volunteers

  • Shepherds to accompany participants through the disposal process

  • Firearm safety and dismantling teams (the only group that handles the firearms)

  • Hospitality and support volunteers

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These events are designed to reduce access to unsafe, unusable, and unwanted firearms while offering communities a practical and meaningful way to participate in harm reduction and community safety. With trained leadership, clear procedures, and defined volunteer roles, the events are intentionally structured to minimize risk while serving the broader community.

If your organization has space, volunteers, and a desire to serve your community in this way, we’d welcome the conversation.

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