Oregon Father, Who Grows Up with Guns, Surrenders AR-15 Rifle for Cops to Destroy

An Oregon father of two has surrendered his right to bear arms and has given up his AR-15 rifle and 9mm handgun for the cops to destroy.

Ben Beers, who served as a former Marine and grew up with guns all his life, told Today that he would no longer tolerate gun violence. While he had the firearms as a self-defense tool, recent events made him believe it's also a token of "pure evil and destruction."

The father said he could not sleep well after the Uvalde school shooting, where 19 children and two teachers died from a mass shooter's attack. Beers made a firm resolve a few days after that incident to give his guns to the Hillsboro Police Department because he no longer wanted them.

@benji5811 Turning in my guns to have destroyed by Police. #uvalde #guncontrol #koin6 #texas #teachersoftiktok #portlandpolice #parentsoftiktok #shootings ♬ original sound - Ben Beers

Dad Confident He's On the Right Path

Speaking with CNN, Beers said he felt he was on the right path when he gave up his guns. He also believed that his decision would likely not have any immediate impact on the gun legislation, but he hoped that Americans would see this as a wake-up call.

"No other country has the problems that we do with gun violence," Beers said.

The Hillsboro Police Department confirmed that the father was committed to doing his part and taking a small step towards ending gun violence. His move might have been symbolic, and Sgt. Clint Chrz said it was rare for a young gun owner to dispose of his firearms via the police. Most people would turn over their guns at the pawnshop because they can be worth more than $2,000, per Oregon Live.

Beers also said that money is another reason why the gun problem remains in America. He noted that a billion-dollar industry providing thousands of jobs and tax revenues would be lost if the U.S. went hard on gun manufacturers.

However, Beers also said that the country needs stricter gun laws. He said the "right to bear arms" written in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution "cannot be like the holy grail."

Matthew McConaughey Wants Stronger Action on Gun Violence

Meanwhile, Hollywood star, Uvalde, native and father of three Matthew McConaughey, was at the White House to plead with lawmakers to enact a stronger gun legislation reform. He said that America has many responsible gun owners who are fed up with some "deranged individuals" who abuse the Second Amendment.

The father said that he and his wife, Camilla Alves, have been spending time with the families of the Uvalde victims whose dreams were crushed when they lost their children. McConaughey also said that despite the divisiveness in American politics, he knows that the public is truly united in its desire to stop gun violence.