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Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton says gun owners can turn in their unwanted firearms at the city’s buyback program in May. 

The city is using money from a private donor to give out gift cards to anyone who wants to get rid of their weapons.

Mayor Stanton said the buyback will be the biggest in city history and it will happen on the first three Saturdays in May at churches in Maryvale, Sunnyslope and South Mountain.    

Stanton said $100,000 has been provided by an anonymous donor, but the city is looking for additional private donations to purchase more guns from people who voluntarily want to get rid of them. 

“We hope that we end up buying more gift cards because for the very reasons that we are doing this," he said. "The more unwanted weapons we get off the street, the more possibility of returning stolen weapons, the more opportunity to find weapons that may be used in crime the better.”

Stanton said the city will offer $100 gift cards for handguns, shotguns and rifles and $200 for assault weapons. The city also will offer lower-amount gift cards for “high capacity” ammunition magazines, but they must be turned in with the gun. 

Stanton said the program won’t completely eliminate gun violence in the city but he says it’s a good place to start.