As part of its Gun Buyback program, Dallas Common uses the weapons it purchases to make sculptures. Disabled pistols and rifles are given to Dallas artist Byron Zarrabi. As can be seen from the photographs above, the sculptures include both religious and peace symbols.

Dallas Common is a publicly supported 501(c)(3) charity, Federal ID. 20-1609463.
What is the Mission of “Dallas Common”?
The Mission of Dallas Common is to bring together diverse peoples, perspectives and resources in order to create solutions to the issues that confront and divide our communities. Issues such as: poverty, violence, addiction, prejudice and intolerance. Its primary goal is to develop programs that address a growing culture of violence among our youth. Dallas Common aims to provide a generation of children with realistic alternatives to violence. Creating a dialogue with our youth regarding words and peace as an alternative to guns and violence.
There is a culture of violence that is ingrained in the day-to-day experiences of many of our young people. The problems of guns and violence are at epidemic proportions. Television, cartoons, video games, movies, the toy industry, ‘hip hop” music, and many other influences contribute to this culture. Please explore this web site and discover how Dallas Common is working with the Dallas community to address this problem.

Dallas Common believes in nonviolence consistent with the practices of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. No violent actions will be perpetrated or supported by Dallas Common.

In early America, many people shared some public space that marked the center of their common world. In New England, this space was actually referred to as the “common” and was generally comprised of a green area ringed by houses, public buildings, businesses, and churches. In addition to providing a collective space for gardening and livestock, people met in the commons to talk and work out community problems. The town square in the South, Main Street in Middle American, and the bodego in Latino communities served some of the same functions by providing a place for all people of the community to get together and discuss issues with “a shared sense of participation and responsibility.”

Dallas Common believes that an agreement among any members of a community is a commitment between individuals that should be relied upon. To insure a healthy community, it is essential that individuals can be relied upon to dependably keep their word whether it is a statement, promise, or contract.

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.  ~Mother Teresa

“A gun kept in the home is 22 times more likely to kill a family member or a friend than it is to be used against an intruder.” Arthur Kellermann, MD, New England Journal of Medicine. 1998
Dallas Common has been involved in several gun buy back programs, including one with the Stewpot of First Presbyterian Church and the Greater Dallas Community of Churches. With the program, cash is exchanged for guns and ammunition. Typically Dallas Common will receive over one hundred guns from the community at one of these events.
At its last gun buyback event, Dallas Common joined the City of DeSoto and the DeSoto Ministerial Alliance. The event was held on June 23 at The Community Missionary Baptist Church on 115 W. Beltline Road in DeSoto, Texas.

If electricity for an electric welder or a portable torch welder is available, the guns can be permanently disabled at the collection site so they can be safely stored before they are made into art or destroyed. A torch weld or electric weld on the breech of the weapon and the barrel should render the weapon not only unusable, but also irreparable.
The guns should be destroyed or disabled. Typically the guns are taken to a facility that will melt them or destroy them. You should have the police accompany the volunteer who takes the guns to be destroyed. The guns should be stored by a law enforcement agency if they are not going to be destroyed immediately. This prevents the guns from being stolen. This is also another reason to solicit support of the police department well in advance of the event.
Guns can be taken to local smelters and melted. Guns can be taken to wrecking yards and shredded by placing the guns in an car about to go into the shredder, then witnessing the destruction of the auto. Storage and scheduling can be a problem with both smelting and shredding. Ideally, a police officer can accompany the transfer of the guns from the event to the destruction point and witness the destruction. However, if the buyback is Saturday, and the destruction the following Monday, the guns must be stored. Ideally, this can be worked out with the police or sheriff’s department using their secure storage facilities. Alternatively, the guns can be disabled under the supervision of the police, and storing becomes unimportant.

"Peace is costly but it is worth the expense”  African Proverb

There are creative alternative uses for the guns.
Dallas Common is using the guns it collected at its last gun buy-back event to make sculptures.
It has commissioned artist Byron Zarabi who is using disabled guns to make a sculpture with an anti-violence message. The sculpture(s) will be portable so it can be taken to future events.
In addition, Dallas Common had several of the more attractive hand guns disabled and artistically mounted on plaques. These plaques were given to those members of law enforcement and local government who actively supported or assisted with the event. These gifts were very appreciated and help promote a spirit of good will and cooperation with future gun buy-back events.

During these events, Dallas Common collects a large number of rifles and hand guns, including assault weapons and Saturday night specials. Typically Dallas Common will receive over one hundred guns from the community at one of these events. Guns from the second event last year are currently being made into a sculpture.
Sculptures made with guns from future buy-back events may be sold to raise funds to pay for other buy-back events. Many participants told sponsors they decided to trade their guns after nieces, nephews, children and grandchildren found the weapons that were hidden in their homes.
We anticipate some of the funds for the project to come from private donations.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” Jimi Hendrix