Gun owners are invited to turn in their weapons in exchange for gift cards this weekend in Cobb.

The "Stop The Violence" event will include panel discussions about youth violence, too.

The gun buy-back program on Saturday is hosted by Destiny World Church, 7400 Factory Shoals Road in Austell. It will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The church is hosting two workshops for parents and teens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The topic of one session is "Why are our sons and daughters so angry?" The other session will discuss gangs.

There will be a teen forum on Friday at the South Cobb Recreation Center, 875 Six Flags Drive in Austell, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This program is for teenagers only.

State Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan hopes the programs will "raise the awareness of the issue of violence."

She worked with several organizations to put together the programs after Joshua Caleb Burroughs was shot and killed on April 16 in Austell. Two teenagers, who police say are gang members, have been charged with his murder.

"There is a gang presence in every school in Cobb, even though we are focusing on south Cobb, which is my district," Morgan said.

Six Flags Over Georgia donated 12 park tickets and $500 toward the buy-back. Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens contributed $1,000 and State Sen. Doug Stoner gave $500. Several businesses also contributed to the effort, Morgan said.

The gift cards will be in $25 and $50 increments.

The discussions "will help people understand that they can play a role," Morgan said.

"We are not going to sit idly by....It will have a positive impact. It is one of the first steps for all of us to send the message: not in my community, not in our community."

Cobb police will be on hand for the events on Friday and Saturday, said Officer Cassie Reece, a department spokeswoman. Evidence technicians will take the functioning guns.

The program is supported by the Cobb Police Department, the Cobb Sheriff's Office and the county's Department of Public Safety.

For more information on the Save Our Youth: Stop the Violence program go to: http://www.alishamorgan.com.