The Greensboro, North Carolina police department wants to make residents safer by disarming them.

The department held a turn-in Saturday and invited citizens to sign a “non-violence” pledge and hand over their guns.

” … gun owners may safely turn in unwanted firearms. Police employees will accept handguns, rifles, shotguns, and ammunition at the event. This is not a buy-back program. No cash will be given in exchange for weapons voluntarily surrendered to police,” the city said in a news release announcing the program.

Anyone age 18 and older may turn in a weapon. Weapons can be surrendered anonymously. There is no limit to the number of firearms a person may surrender. Once a weapon is surrendered, it will not be returned.

Weapons should be unloaded and cleared when they are turned in. A police employee will receive each weapon and render it safe. Ammunition may also be surrendered.

Firearms will be checked to determine if they have been reported lost or stolen. Police will make every effort to return lost/stolen weapons to their rightful owners. All other weapons will be retained for safekeeping by GDP.

According to the news release, so-called “gun” violence has increased 68% in the city over the last year.

The Greensboro Police Department hoped 1,000 residents would sign the “non-violence” pledge. They didn’t say how many guns they wished to round up.

The pledge, posted by WFMY News 2 reporter Jessica Mensch, refers to citizens pledging to:

• Making peace must start within myself.
• To respect self and others.
• To communicate better.
• To listen.
• To forgive.
• To be courageous.

GPD wants YOU to sign a pledge of nonviolence. Today they'll be taking pledges & collecting unwanted weapons @WFMY pic.twitter.com/6aYEyrY2Za

— Jessica Mensch (@Jessmensch) November 14, 2015

Time Warner Cable News reports “nearly” 1,000 residents participated but did not report how many weapons were surrendered. There’s also no indication as to how many residents who have a penchant for using a gun illegally turned in their weapon.