audio, stills, text and or video: Go to http://www.zReportage.com to see more - Sometimes it takes a tragedy to make us see reality. An average of 34 people are killed each day by gun violence in America Ð some 12,000 a year. The slaughter of 20 schoolchildren in Newtown Connecticut has shaken the old certainties of many gun rights advocates, causing them to reassess the need for new laws. But because gun rights are built into our Constitution and culture Ð and backed by a powerful lobby Ð the body count rarely comes up in policy debates. But a sea change seems to be under way. A new Washington Post/ABC poll shows that 54 per cent of Americans now support stricter gun laws and 59 per cent back a nationwide ban on high-capacity ammunition clips Ð meaning those that contain more than 10 bullets. The question is whether politicians will listen to the people.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S . - A .22 caliber fully automatic machine pistol with a 30-round ammunition magazine was turned in, no questions asked, at the event.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - San Diego Police officer B. ROBINSON took a .22 caliber rifle out of the back of a car. Police observed that the gun was a homemade assembly of many different parts to make a functional weapon.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - A table full of tagged weapons that were taken in during the exchange will be checked to see if they were stolen, if so they will be offered back to the original owners otherwise they will be destroyed.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - The machined muzzle of a high powered rifle.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - A San Diego Police SWAT officer carried an armful of vintage rifles that one person brought to turn in.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - At least one lever action rifle was turned in.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - Cars looped around the empty lot where they lined up to bring in their weapons.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy SEAN ZDUNICH removed two vintage rifles from the back of a person's car during the exchange.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - A TEC-9, 9mm fully automatic machine pistol was exchanged for a $100 grocery gift certificate at the event. The weapon is illegal to own in the state of California and was taken in with no questions asked.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - The business end view of an old double barreled shotgun that was exchanged for a gift card.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - San Diego police officer DAVID HWANG, left, takes in an armful of weapons from a San Diego Police Department SWAT officer who had received them from one person who turned them in.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - San Diego police officers SUZY DE LA PENA and JOSE LUIS MERCADO look over some of the weapons taken in during the exchange on Friday.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - Some of the weapons taken Friday in the annual guns for gift cards exchange. The weapons are checked, and those found to be stolen are offered to the original owner.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - The sight on a WWII vintage rifle.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - TRACEY COOK, a civilian employee with the San Diego Police Department, loaded rifles into duffle bags for transport back to the police headquarters.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - A sample of handguns turned in during the annual guns for gift cards exchange.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA

Dec. 21, 2012 - San Diego, California, U.S. - A head-on view of the end of the barrel of one of the rifles turned in.
© John Gibbins/U-T San Diego/zReportage/ZUMA