Shaquille O’Neal has a huge presence in Texas, especially in Dallas. That, however, didn’t earn him support on his latest initiative. Shaq collaborated with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department on its first g*n buyback program in early February. The event took place on February 10, with the $500 million worth mogul sponsoring the event. However, locals resisted the offer.

In a video uploaded by the NRA (National Rifle Association), g*n owners strongly refused to participate in the event, saying they didn’t care about his celebrity status, as per Fox News. The 4x NBA champion had earlier appeared in a video with Sheriff Marion Brown urging locals to “bring those unwanted weapons that are lying around the house” to the buyback event.

With Shaq’s sponsorship, the county offered $100 gift cards in exchange for handg*ns and $125 gift cards for long g*ns. Shaq wasn’t present in person but he said in a press release, “I support Sheriff Brown’s initiatives; Sheriff is doing the right thing and keeping our communities safe.”

Shaq has been fostering closeness between the local community and law enforcement for a long time. He reiterated the same during a recent appearance on Doctor Oz, where he confirmed he’s a volunteer deputy in multiple counties, including in Florida and Los Angeles. He’s also an honorary deputy in Southeast Texas.

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He has done a lot to support law enforcement for many years, like sending well wishes to a Texas deputy injured on duty and leading recruitment videos. He also supports various programs by sheriffs, as was the case this time as well. However, it didn’t get the support from the public.

Dallas locals urge Shaquille O’Neal to focus on other issues

The Dallas Sheriff’s Office reported they collected more than 130 firearms. However, the NRA has doubts about the effectiveness of a buyback program in bringing down g*n-related crimes.

The NRA held a separate event where they staunchly rejected the initiative and refused to part with their firearms. While some claimed their weapons are for “protection,” others said that their g*ns are family heirlooms. A few expressed disappointment that the value of the gift cards wasn’t satisfactory for the exchange.

While Shaq is loved in Dallas, firearm owners asked him to divert his energies elsewhere. “That feels like with his celebrity status, he could probably do something more productive than this,” someone said.

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