Gun turn-in event happening this weekend in Chicago's Austin neighborhood

CHICAGO - Chicago police have announced a new effort to get weapons off the streets. There will be another big, gun turn-in event August 20 in the Austin neighborhood.

More than 400 weapons, including ghost guns and assault weapons, were surrendered at Saint Sabina in June. Next up, Hope Community Church in Austin will ask people to turn over their guns.

The church's pastor says this is how people need to work together.

"We're looking to have a lot of guns turned in to make our communities safer because there is no neighborhood without neighbors working together," said Pastor Steve Epting, Sr.

Chicago police insist the gun turn-in events make a difference by getting weapons off the streets and out of houses, where they can be a threat in multiple ways.

"Those are the weapons that are being used in suicides. Those are the weapons being stolen and used in other crimes," said Glen Brooks, Director of Community Policing for the Chicago Police Department.

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In addition to the gun turn-ins, CPD touted some of the weapons officers recovered over the weekend, in a city reeling every week from gun violence and lives lost.

"They've also taken more than 450 guns off of Chicago streets for the first half of this month and 7,836 this year. This weekend alone, our officers recovered 89 guns," said First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter.

Chicago Police say they hope to build on that momentum with Saturday's event at Hope Community Church in Austin. Guns can be turned in no questions asked from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5900 West Iowa Street in Chicago.