Michigan Church's Gun Buyback Program Featured on "The Daily Show"

St. David's Episcopal Church in Southfield, Michigan recently gained national recognition when its gun buyback program was featured on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show."

The segment highlighted the church's community-based approach to reducing gun violence in metro Detroit, an initiative that has collected 650 unwanted firearms since 2022.

Media Spotlight

Correspondent Desi Lydic interviewed the church's rector, the Very Rev. Chris Yaw, in a segment that combined humor with discussion about gun violence prevention. In the interview, conducted in one of the church's pews, Lydic asked Yaw about his unusual role in firearm disposal.

"In America, it's a lot easier to get a gun than to get rid of a gun," Yaw explained, adding that addressing gun violence requires more than just "thoughts and prayers." The segment concluded with Yaw showing Lydic the workshop where collected firearms are sawed in half before disposal.

Key Details

• Organizer: St. David's Episcopal Church in Southfield, Michigan
• Program Duration: Since 2022
• Number of Events: Eight gun buyback and disposal events across the Detroit area
• Results: 650 firearms removed from circulation
• Terms of Exchange: Gift cards (primarily to Target) offered in exchange for firearms
• Partners: Oakland County Board of Commissioners, University of Michigan's Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, Southfield Police Department
• Process: Firearms are sawed in half before disposal

Program Development

The church's gun buyback initiative began with an event offering $5,000 worth of gift cards in exchange for firearms. According to Yaw, the response was a line of cars that stretched two miles, and organizers ran out of gift cards within 20 minutes.

When Lydic inquired about the type of gift cards offered, Yaw mentioned they were primarily for Target, prompting a humorous reaction from the correspondent.

"There are millions of unwanted guns in the possession of reluctant owners all across the U.S. posing unknown health risks to individuals and communities," Yaw stated in a March 7 news release. "And every weapon we help take out of circulation has the potential to avert a tragedy."

Broader Context

The church's program operates against a backdrop of increasing concern about gun violence in Michigan, particularly following mass shootings at Oxford High School in 2021 and Michigan State University in 2023.

St. David's initiative is part of a larger statewide effort led by faith leaders from Michigan's three Episcopal dioceses. It aims to raise awareness about gun violence and advocate for policy changes.

Their advocacy contributed to the passage of Michigan's newest gun safety law in January 2025, which requires police to completely destroy all firearms surrendered during community buyback events.