LOS ANGELES, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Thursday kicked off a gun buy-back program urging Angelenos to turn in their guns to police departments in exchange for gift cards.

    Angelenos who turn in their guns -- regardless of whether the firearm has been used in a crime -- will receive a gift certificate, Villaraigosa said.

    "This is an opportunity to make a real difference for our children and families," said the mayor. "It's a chance to take matters into our own hands and prevent the next tragic shooting and the next unnecessary murder."

    The city has 70,000 U.S. dollars for the gun buy-back program, and the goal is to collect as many guns as possible, Villaraigosa said.

    On May 9, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will be at 20 locations throughout the city to accept guns in exchange for 100-dollar and 200-dollar gift cards.

    LAPD officials do not plan to run ballistics tests on any of the collected firearms to match them up to unsolved crimes, in hopes that that will encourage Angelenos to participate in the program.

    The weapons that are bought back will be melted down and destroyed.

    The program is an opportunity for the community to come together and understand that neighbors need to work together to curb gun and gang violence, said Vicky Lindsey of Project Cry No More, a gun-control organization.

    Lindsey's 19-year-old son was shot and killed in 1995.

    "To me, we all need to take responsibility so it's just not gang members, it's just not all of our kids were innocent," Lindsey said. "The problem is all of us."

    The Rev. Jeff Carr, the deputy mayor who oversees the city's anti-gang initiatives, said the Mother Day's weekend is a good time for young people to purge themselves of guns and turn away from violence.

    "If you love your mother, if you love your neighborhood, if you love your friends, bring your gun in on Mother's Day weekend," Carr said. "There's no better way to honor your mother than to get rid of that gun that may be in your backpack, or may be in your pocket or you're hiding it under your bed. Get some money, get some cash, a gift card, and do something good with that."