Crime

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca announced on July 12 the destruction of more than 8,000 weapons confiscated from criminals in Los Angeles County through “Project Isaiah”.

Annually, Gerdau Steel Mill, located in Rancho Cucamonga, donates its furnace, equipment and personnel to convert the weapons into steel rebar. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works also donates the trucks every year that transport the weapons.

“Project Isaiah” takes its name from the biblical passage in the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 2:4) that calls for swords to be beaten into plowshares as a way of bringing peace. “Project Isaiah” has been embraced by Gerdau’s employees and incorporated into the company’s community outreach program.

The weapons will be melted into rebar and ultimately transformed into elements of construction for upgrades in freeways and bridges in Arizona, California and Nevada.

Twenty law enforcement agencies have contributed confiscated weapons to this program, including Beverly Hills, California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

“These weapons that you see here will never again be used to commit a crime or used to threaten or intimidate an innocent victim,” Baca said.

Tags | "Project Isaiah", Lee Baca, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department