MADISON, Wis. — Nearly 600 guns were surrendered in a Dane County gun buyback program on Saturday, according to the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.

The DCSO, with the assistance of the Madison Police Department, held its first Gift Cards for Guns event at the Alliant Energy Center on Saturday. During the four-hour event, a total of 577 weapons were surrendered in exchange for $43,380 in gift cards for gas and groceries.

“We’re very pleased with the results from this effort to interrupt the access to guns in our community,” Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a statement. “It’s important to remember that we will never know if we have prevented an injury or death. We can’t measure something that did not happen. But by providing this opportunity for people to safely dispose of their unwanted firearms, we can undoubtedly say that these guns will never be used in a crime, a suicide, a domestic violence incident or an accident.”

The DCSO said the following guns were recovered:

• 333 long guns, including rifles, shotguns and 11 assault-style rifles
• 95 handguns, including revolvers and semi-automatic pistols
• 93 pellet, BB and paintball guns
• 1 cross bow pistol
• 55 homemade weapons (3D and slam guns)

Additionally, 380 lbs. of ammunition were recovered.

Community organizations and businesses including Madison Gas and Electric, Tellurian, Robinia Courtyard, Boys and Girls Club of Dane County and the NAACP Dane County Branch 36AB, along with several private citizens donated a total of $8,525 in gift cards toward the program, giving the sheriff’s office more than $45,500 in available funds.

“We’ve seen all too often that when guns end up in the wrong hands, there can be devastating consequences,” Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said. “Thanks to the Dane County Sheriff’s Office for coordinating this event and providing an opportunity for those in our community to safely turn in their unwanted firearms.”